High-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol is called the good cholesterol because of its healthy effects. On the other hand low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol plays a major role in heart disease by sticking to the artery walls and causing blockage. While the bad LDL cholesterol clogs arteries, HDL cholesterol cleans up the excess cholesterol and brings it to the liver where it exits the body. Raising HDL cholesterol counts is as important as lowering LDL levels. The problems that cause low HDL cholesterol are usually reversible.
Weight
Low HDL levels have been linked to fat deposited in the middle of the body, according to DiabetesHealth. Saturated fats and trans fats, found in hard margarines, many baked goods and fried fast foods, reduce HDL levels. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats raise HDL and are found in olive, peanut and canola oils. A healthy, low-fat diet has a powerful effect on HDL. People can increase their HDL levels and also lower their LDL cholesterol just by losing a few pounds through diet and exercise, the Mayo Clinic says.
Inactivity
A sedentary lifestyle lowers HDL levels, but that process quickly turns around by doing an exercise routine for just 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. Once inactive people can raise their HDL cholesterol levels by about five percent within two months of starting regular aerobic exercise, the Mayo Clinic says. Aerobic exercise increases the heart rate and the amount of oxygen in the blood. Walking, running, biking, swimming or even raking leaves are examples of aerobic exercise.
Smoking
Smoking reduces HDL levels and causes chemical changes that eliminate HDL's effectiveness, the Mayo Clinic explains. People who smoke can reverse their low HDL levels by quitting in a short time. Quitting smoking increases HDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Heredity
Low levels of HDL come from inherited genes in many cases. Some people with familial low HDL have a defective protein that interferes with their ability to transport cholesterol out of their cells, according to Medical News Today. As a result, excess cholesterol accumulates in many tissues. Mutations in the proteins were found in low HDL subjects when compared to a control group, according to a study reported in the June 2007 issue of the "Journal of Lipid Research." People who are genetically predisposed to low HDL levels have to concentrate more on a healthy lifestyle. Men have to work harder to raise their HDL levels than women, who have higher HDL levels than men.
