In this lesson we'll explain what HDL cholesterol is and how it affects the body. We'll also look at the healthy range for HDL and the factors that can increase HDL levels. What Is Cholesterol? Although we usu
Gary Stix
As mentioned, the body produces cholesterol in the liver, but it can also get cholesterol from animal-based foods like meat and dairy. Food-derived cholesterol is known as dietary cholesterol and until recently, it was believed that dietary cholesterol played a significant part in causing high bl...
You've probably heard of 'bad' cholesterol. What is it and what does it mean for your health? Find out in this lesson, then check your understanding with the quiz at the end. Definition Cholesterolis a type of fat that our bodies produce. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need....
The good cholesterol, called HDL, plays the role of actually trying to clear cholesterol deposits from the walls of your artery, and it's those deposits on the wall of the artery that can rupture, causing a heart attack, a stroke, without warning, so you want as much good cholesterol as...
That is why HDL cholesterol is called "good cholesterol." Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VDL) cholesterol carry fats around the body to places that need it. However, while a small amount of LDL and VLDL cholesterol is necessary, too much is harmful because ...
Low HDL cholesterol level (it's too low if it's less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women) Gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds Prediabetes (when your blood sugar level is above normal, but you don't have the disease yet)...
HDL: high-density lipoproteins, the "good" kind of cholesterol that works to prevent heart disease-causing plaque in the arteries LDL: low-density lipoproteins, the "bad" type of cholesterol that can cause plaque buildup VLDL: very low-density lipoproteins, another type of "bad" cholesterol th...
and your total cholesterol levels are made up of a combination of your LDL, HDL, and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein, another "bad" cholesterol) levels. A total cholesterol score of 200 mg/dL or lower is considered optimal. Levels above 200 mg/dL are considered high and can mean you...
If you're looking for an all-natural way to lower your cholesterol -- in addition to watching what you eat and exercising -- there are plenty of dietary supplements on the market that claim to do the trick. Each year seems to bring a new alternative reme