Triglycerides: 101mg/dL

What does a triglyceride test result of 101 mean?

A triglyceride level of 101 mg/dL is considered optimal. A healthy triglyceride level is associated with better heart health and a lower risk of heart disease.

Factors that impact triglyceride test results

Various factors play a role in triglyceride levels including your weight, diet, physical activity level, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Some medications and diseases also impact triglyceride levels.

• Weight: Excess body fat, particularly around the abdomen, can also increase triglycerides.

• Diet: Diets high in fat, added sugar, and refined carbohydrates can increase triglyceride levels.

• Physical Activity: Being physically active can help lower triglyceride levels.

• Medications: Certain medicines, including corticosteroids, beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, antivirals, and estrogen, can raise your triglyceride level.

• Some medical conditions: Thyroid, liver, or kidney disease, as well as poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, can change triglycerides.

• Smoking: Smoking is associated with elevated triglyceride levels.

• Excessive alcohol consumption: Heavy drinking can raise triglyceride levels.

How to maintain optimal triglyceride levels

Keeping triglycerides in the optimal range (<150 mg/dL) is good for your overall health and can help lower your risk of developing heart disease in the future. 

Like LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels can increase over time so it’s best to put heart-healthy habits into place now. Here are some things you can do to help keep your levels in the optimal range:  

• Move daily. Aim to exercise for 30-60 minutes at least 5x/week.

• Lose excess weight by reducing calories.

• Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates and limit added sugars to <25g/day.

• Replace saturated fats with healthy, unsaturated fats like those found in nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, and fatty fish like salmon.

• Avoid eating trans fats and limit your saturated fat intake to <10% of total calories.

• Quit smoking.

• Limit alcohol consumption to <1-2 drinks/day.