Cholesterol isn't always bad for you. There is a type of cholesterol called high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, that can be beneficial for you, FamilyDoctor.org explains. Another kind of cholesterol called low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, is the type that is bad for you. You can increase your levels of good cholesterol by making certain adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. There are certain foods and beverages that can help boost your HDL to healthy levels.
If you consume nothing but french fries and burgers each night, or something comparable, your cholesterol surely pays the price. These foods negatively impact your HDL -- good -- cholesterol.
When HDL levels are low, excess cholesterol remains in your bloodstream and begins to adhere to artery walls, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Your doctor can suggest...
TLC includes regular doctor visits, weight management, healthy meals and physical activity. In addition, MayoClinic.com encourages cessation of smoking and moderation of alcohol consumption. Healthy lifestyle choices are a natu...
LDLs are considered the bad kind, because they are stored in the body and can build up along artery walls. HDLs are considered the good kind, because they are excreted from the body. The goal is to lower LDL levels and increase...
Despite the common misconception that lowering your overall cholesterol is associated with being healthy, there is a good form of cholesterol, HDL, that you want to maintain at a high level. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, i...
HDL cholesterol has the job of transporting cholesterol to the liver to prevent a build-up in the blood. Thus, low HDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of developing a heart attack due to clogged arteries. It is possible to...
To have good heart health, you need to have good cholesterol numbers. That means you may have to raise your good, high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol level and lower your bad, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, choleste...
Some people mistakenly assume that all types of cholesterol are bad, and that they contribute to heart disease and other conditions. However, not all types of cholesterol are harmful to the body. Low-density lipoproteins are th...
While your doctor wants you to decrease your bad cholesterol, you can do this more efficiently if you increase your good cholesterol. Now that this has been clarified, you can discuss this more easily with your doctor.
The Mayo Clinic states that healthy levels of HDL are 60 mg/dl, the measurement of cholesterol in the blood. When less than 40 mg/dl in men or 50 mg/dl in women, the risk for heart disease increases.
While the body needs some amount of cholesterol, if a person gets too much, it begins to build up in the arteries. Cholesterol eventually narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. LDL, or bad cholesterol...
An estimated 98.6 million Americans have total cholesterol over 200 mg/dl, which is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease. While that's not good news, there is hope. Through a triad of diet, exercise and medications...
Because cholesterol build-up in the blood can significantly increase your risk of heart disease, HDL plays an important role in your body's overall health. HDL may also help prevent inflammation and clotting in your cardiovascu...
HDL, or High Density Lipids, is the good cholesterol that is found in the human body. It's opponent, LDL, or Low Density Lipids is what is responsible for plaque build up in the arteries and heart attack risk. HDL is responsibl...
HDL, also known as high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol, is the kind of cholesterol you actually want to get more of. HDL helps protect your body against heart disease by removing bad cholesterol (also called LDL, or lo...
When most women think about improving their cholesterol score, they think about lowering their LDL, or bad cholesterol. In fact, though, it's just as important to maintain high levels of HDL, the good kind of cholesterol. Accor...
Cholesterol is responsible for cell formation and the production and release of hormones. But when levels of cholesterol become too high, a fatty substance called "plaque" can build up on the arteries and increase you...
