Fat and your stress level - Lifelines - higher stress level causes body to take longer to clear heart-damaging fats from bloodstream - Brief Article

Vibrant Life, July-August, 2002

When you're under stress, it can take your body significantly longer to clear heart-damaging fats from your bloodstream.

A study done at Ohio State University tested how quickly an injected triglyceride solution was cleared from the bloodstreams of 70 adult volunteers. During one session each of the volunteers received the injection, followed by rest. In the second test the injection was followed by a variety of stress-producing tests. In all 70 volunteers the triglycerides were eliminated more quickly during the restful session, averaging 3.2 percent per minute, than the stressful session, averaging 2.8 percent per minute.

The study is important, because the longer fat circulates in your body, the more likely it may be to be deposited in your arteries, where it can contribute to heart disease.

(Psychophysiology)