May 29, 2001 NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS "Nutrition news is important. We help you understand it!" Today's Topic: Cholesterol's Half-Brother Triglycerides are a type of fat that travels in the bloodstream along with cholesterol, phospholipid and protein in packages called lipoproteins. Triglycerides are composed of three fatty acids hooked to a molecule of glycerol. This is the most concentrated form of energy the body can use, and that stuff you can pinch around your waist is triglyceride - the storage form of fat. Vegetable oils are also pure triglyceride. No food source of triglycerides is completely saturated or unsaturated. Fats solid at room temperature (butter, beef tallow, coconut oil, hydrogenated fats like margarine and shortening) are more saturated. Liquid fats (corn, safflower, sunflower, olive, and soybean oils) tend to be highly unsaturated. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: For some people, high triglycerides in the blood are a risk factor for heart disease. Recommended ways to lower triglycerides are weight loss, exercise, and reducing consumption of alcohol or carbohydrates, especially sugars. http://www.NutritionNewsFocus.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com