Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol Explained

Most of us are aware that foods high in cholesterol are bad for our health. Most have also heard that there is more than one type of cholesterol, and that one type of cholesterol is even beneficial to our health. But what exactly is the difference between good and bad cholesterol, and how do they impact our health?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that cannot be dissolved in blood. It is derived from the foods we eat, as most everyone knows, but the body, specifically the liver, also manufactures cholesterol. And in spite of the generic bad image of cholesterol, it is actually very important. In fact, without cholesterol, the body could not function. Cholesterol is used in the creation of cell structures, in the production of hormones, in the functioning of nerve cells, and in other essential functions.

But though cholesterol is vitally important to the body, one type of cholesterol in excess quantities is very damaging, and this is where the distinction between good and bad cholesterol becomes important. LDL cholesterol is the bad guy. LDL cholesterol builds upon the interior walls of arteries, creating the plaque that leads to the disease of atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

HDL cholesterol is the good one, and just like the good guys squaring off against the bad guys in a movie, the good guy/bad guy cholesterols do battle within your body. HDL cholesterol helps you by scavenging excess cholesterol from your blood, and transporting it to the liver to be excreted. HDL may also help to remove cholesterol that has already formed plaque deposits within arteries.

Just as high levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease, very low levels of HDL cholesterol also increase the risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, an LDL level of less than 100 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood), and an HDL level of 60 mg/dl and above, are considered optimum. So how do you achieve the recommended levels of HDL/LDL cholesterol? Though not the only factor, lifestyle has a significant influence upon your levels of good and bad cholesterol.

Getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking will help to lower LDL levels, and will also help to increase HDL levels. Diet can also have a major impact. To help lower LDL levels, limit the amount of food you consume containing saturated fats and trans fats. Conversely, foods such as certain types of fish (salmon, mackerel, and others) and nuts (walnuts, almonds) which contain omega-3 fatty acids will help to raise HDL levels.

To help keep them straight, remember that the bad guy cholesterol is the one that starts with an L, and you want it to be Lower, and the good guy starts with an H, and you want it to be Higher.