Triglycerides are the form in which your body stores fat. Ninety-five percent of dietary fat consists of complex molecules called triglycerides, which in turn are made up of three smaller substances called fatty acids. Cholesterol is not really a fat, although it exhibits some of the characteristics of fat. In the human body, cholesterol is found in the blood and body tissues. Both are vital to the healthy functioning of the body.
Cholesterol is essential for the production of steroid hormones, vitamin D and bile.
Among the primary ones, high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol both increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes, and stroke. Her column appears on Wednesdays.