ldl_cholesterol's Journal

Bad and the good Cholesterol

About 17 million people have died around the world because of cardiovascular diseases. Every time this kind of statistics shows up, many people would contribute its cause to cholesterol. But strangely enough, cholesterol plays a vital role in every day life.

There are two types of cholesterol streaming inside our veins: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is produced by the liver and carries cholesterol through out the body for biochemical processes like hormone production. High density lipoproteins basically sweep the body from excess cholesterol and bring it to the liver for excretion. With the help of a Cholesterol Levels Chart, you can assess how much of the two you have in your body by undergoing a simple blood test.

If you get a cholesterol reading lower than 200mg/dl, then it’s safe to say that you are not at risk for heart disease. But if you go beyond that, maybe its time for you to consider getting on a treadmill or perhaps a check up with your doctor. Basing on the LDL cholesterol levels chart, an LDL level of 130mg/dl or less is fine for the body but any higher than that then the risk for cardiac disease will most become likely. On the other hand, if you checked the HDL cholesterol levels chart, an HDL reading of 60mg/dl and higher can do wonders to the body but detrimental if the scale tips o the opposite side. Charts like these serve in gauging one’s health status and are needed by doctors as a guide for treatment and counter measures.

So basically, LDL is known as the bad cholesterol. So obviously, lowering it would be a great first step. Diet primarily plays a role in this. Meats especially pork and beef should be taken in exceed with what is recommended by the food pyramid. Butter should also be taken in small amounts although margarine is not much of a good substitute because it’s riddled with chemicals. Simply put, limiting fat intake is very important in having normal LDL levels.

On the flip side, having high levels of HDL in the body is beneficial to health. Diet also plays a role in increasing the levels of this so called “good cholesterol”. Consuming foods rich in niacin can help increase the amount of HDL in the blood like eggs and dairy products. Also, consume plenty of fat, more specifically healthy ones like omega-3 usually found in peanuts and fish and monounsaturated fats commonly found in olive oil, canola oil and also avocadoes.

Integrating a good diet with exercise and lifestyle adjustments will bring about a perfect balance of LDL and HDL in your body that will give you better life and even better lease in life.

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