Your body needs cholesterol, which is the waxy substance that's contained in the lipids, or fat, in your blood. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is one form of cholesterol that moves the fatty substance through your blood. Your HDL numbers should be higher for maximum health. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the bad cholesterol that, when found in excess in your blood, can leave fatty deposits in your arteries, leading to a host of cardiovascular problems.
Measurements
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood in the United States. The abbreviation reads mg/dl. A lipid profile, or blood test, is used to measure the amount of various cholesterol levels in your blood. A lipid panel test usually checks your LDL and HDL levels as well as your total cholesterol figures and your level of triglycerides. Triglycerides are another type of fat produced by drinking alcohol and eating sweets and should be monitored if you are at risk for heart disease in addition to your cholesterol numbers. It's important to fast from food and drink for 12 hours prior to taking a lipid profile, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Numbers
Healthy men have an HDL level above 60mg/dl, according to the American Heart Association. When men decrease the good cholesterol levels to less than 40mg/dl, they are at a greater risk of developing heart disease. In 2011 American men tend to have lower than optimum HDL levels, with a mean average of 54.3 in men over the age of 20, according to the American Heart Association.
Risks
If you have high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels usually follow. Taking anabolic steroids, progesterone or additional testoterone also can lower your good cholesterol. Smoking and obesity are common risk factors for low HDL and usually correspond with rising LDL, or bad cholesterol, numbers that lead to clogged arteries and cardiovascular diseases.
Raise Your HDL
Exercise and a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats can help increase your HDL cholesterol numbers while lowering your LDL numbers. Another supplement that can raise men's HDL numbers is niacin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Niacin is a B vitamin that increases HDL while helping your body turn carbohydrates into energy. Check with your doctor before starting a niacin supplement because it can interact with other treatments you may be undergoing. High doses of niacin can cause side effects such as flushing, dizziness and increased blood sugar. Foods high in niacin include tuna, salmon and swordfish, brewer's yeast and beets.
