Triglycerides: 121 mg/dL

What does a triglyceride test result of 121 mean?

A triglyceride level of 121 mg/dL is considered optimal. Having a healthy triglyceride level below 150 mg/dL is associated with better heart health and a lower risk of heart disease.

Factors that impact triglyceride test results

Triglyceride levels are impacted by several factors including your diet, weight, physical activity level, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Some medications and diseases can also effect triglyceride levels.

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

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

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

• Smoking: Smoking is associated with elevated triglyceride levels.

• Excessive alcohol consumption: Heavy drinking can also raise 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.

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. 

Triglyceride levels can increase over time, particularly as cholesterol levels increase with age, so it’s best to put heart-healthy habits in 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 5x/week or more.

• 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 intake of saturated fat to <10% of total calories.

• Quit smoking.

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