Your low-density lipoprotein -- LDL -- cholesterol is not as bad as its reputation would have you believe. In healthy levels, it does your body no harm. The cause for concern occurs when your LDL levels rise beyond the safety zone. Knowing what a healthy level is and how to keep your cholesterol level within this range is key to protecting your heart.
The LDL-Cholesterol Connection
Cholesterol is a fat your liver produces to build cells and create hormones such as estrogen. As a fat, it separates from your blood, unable to reach your tissues and perform its functions. Special protein carriers form a protective shell around the cholesterol, transporting it through your blood, enabling it to reach your body's tissues; this is the low-density lipoprotein. When cholesterol levels are healthy, your risk for heart disease is low. However, any excess cholesterol your tissues do not require is released by the lipoproteins into your blood, resulting in a buildup of cholesterol along the walls of your blood vessels.
Cholesterol Levels
LDL is commonly referred to as your "bad" cholesterol due to the correlation between high cholesterol levels and heart disease. It doesn't have to be this way, and for some people, it's not. A cholesterol level below 130 mg/dL is near or above optimal, according to the American Heart Association. A cholesterol test yielding this result usually doesn't require treatment, but rather maintenance.
Avoiding Health Complications
Maintaining a cholesterol level below 130 mg/dL is vital to preventing health complications such as heart disease, the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. This occurs when plaque -- a combination of cholesterol, fat and calcium -- forms in the arteries leading to your heart. Chest pain or heart attack can result when blood flow to your heart is restricted or completely blocked. When plaque forms in the arteries of your neck, it blocks blood flow to your brain, causing a stroke.
Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Prevent your cholesterol levels from rising by eating a diet low in saturated fats. Foods such as red meat, butter, whole fat dairy products, vegetable oil and egg yolks can raise your cholesterol levels, as can foods high in cholesterol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests eating high-fiber foods such as oats, whole-grains, vegetables and fruits. Exercise 30 minutes a day, most days of the week to help keep your numbers low, both cholesterol and body weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is important, as obesity is a major risk factor for high cholesterol. If you already take medication for high cholesterol, continue taking it as long as your doctor deems necessary; stopping too soon can have adverse affects.
