Inside of the body, triglyceride is a type of lipid that is often used to store potential energy in the form of calories. Broadly speaking, a triglyceride is a type of fat that is wrapped in cholesterol after processing by the kidneys. The primary purpose of triglyceride is to store the extra calories that are consumed so they can be used later, meaning that most often triglycerides are found in fat deposits throughout the body, the same type of fat that is often targeted by diets or exercise routines. Without triglycerides, the body would be unable to store extra energy that was consumed, and the calories would quickly pass out of the body and be wasted. A problem can occur when too many triglycerides are present in the body since they can also move through the bloodstream when not compressed into an area of fat. A high triglyceride count in the body, a condition known as hypertriglyceridemia, is linked to many of the same health risks as high cholesterol. Most notably, high triglyceride counts can increase the risk of different forms of Heart disease and stroke, both mostly because of the buildup of fats in the arteries of the body that can create a blockage. The causes of a high triglyceride count can be related to lifestyle and diet, especially the consumption of unhealthy fats, large amounts of fats, and processed or refined carbohydrates. Additionally, without exercise, the body does not have an opportunity to convert the triglycerides into energy, meaning that they will continue to collect in the body and potentially cause obesity or contribute to the development of Diabetes. Some medical conditions such as kidney disease or hypothyroidism can actually prevent the triglycerides from being wrapped in a protein required for proper processing, meaning a triglycerides will slowly accumulate in the blood. There are a number of medications that can be used to lower very high triglyceride levels in the body, although these are not used to return the count to a fully healthy level. One of the only ways that is suggested to reduce high triglyceride levels to normal is to make changes to diet and lifestyle. Eating foods that reduce cholesterol, restricting the intake of saturates and excess quantities of fat, exercising, and leaning away from processed carbohydrates will all, over time, bring down a high triglyceride count and improve health.