Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol... How Does it Affect Your Health?

What is good cholesterol?

To understand this, you first need to know what cholesterol is and how it is transported through the body.

Cholesterol comes from the food we eat (called dietary cholesterol) and it is also produced by the liver. Cholesterol does not dissolve in our bloodstream and is carried around the body by lipoproteins.

LDL and HDL Cholesterol

• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol. This type of lipoprotein frequently results in the development of fatty deposits inside the artery walls, leading to narrowing of the artery walls (known as atherosclerosis). This has been implicated in various diseases of "aging", though it is increasingly seen in young people.
• High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as good cholesterol. This type of lipoprotein removes cholesterol from artery walls and is the transport mechanism for lutein to get from the gut to the retina.

A cholesterol test measures the relative levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol; it is better to have higher levels of HDL cholesterol.

Risks of High LDL Cholesterol Levels...

If you are overweight, a smoker and do not exercise, then you are likely to have higher levels of LDL cholesterol.

There is also growing research to suggest dietary fats may affect conditions such as age related memory loss, osteoporosis and other chronic illnesses.

How to Improve Your HDL Cholesterol Levels

Changing your lifestyle is one way to improve both your cholesterol levels and your overall health. Avoiding smoking, getting exercise and eating the right foods (See Nutritional Principles) will help with this goal.

You can increase the levels of HDL cholesterol in your body by taking in monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, vegetable oils, nuts and avocados. This should be less than 30 per cent of your daily calorie intake. Eating complex carbohydrates and what's known as a 'heart healthy' diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet, will also be helpful. Reduce your intake of saturated fats and eliminate trans-fatty acids.

Other Benefits...

Changing your lifestyle to reduce your levels of bad cholesterol will not only boost your good cholesterol levels, but will reduce the risk of other conditions such as heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, other cancers and the problems associated with obesity (see causes of diabetes). Research has also shown that raising HDL cholesterol levels is protective against macular degeneration.

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