HDL and LDL cholesterol are the measures of the good and the bad, respectively, cholesterol in your blood. HDL and LDL can be measured either at once, or independently. HDL and LDL can be taken at face value or as a ratio. They can be added together, and graphed, and studied for years by a good doctor.

The key is to understand what, exactly, they’re measuring. According to the American Heart Association at americanheart.org:

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.

HDL (good) Cholesterol
About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.

There are some simple ways to lower your LDL cholesterol. You can start by cutting down on servings of meat and shellfish, which both carry high amounts of cholesterol. Even more important is cutting out processed foods - anything that contains stuff you wouldn’t find in nature. This constitutes a surprisingly large portion of the American diet, and accounts in large part for the fact that we, as a society, have the highest average cholesterol of any people in the world.

In addition to cutting down on meats and cutting out processed foods, it’s important to add fresh fruits and vegetables as well as certain nuts like almonds and walnuts. You’ll also want to add a steady routine of exercise. At least twenty minutes of cardiovascular work three times a week is a bare minimum, and more is better. Personally I exercise five times a week and have managed to drop my LDL cholesterol from 135 to 99, while raising my HDL from 53 to 56 in just six months. 

Tags: ldl cholesterol, hdl, cholesterol