You may have heard of “good” and “bad” cholesterol. LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is considered the bad cholesterol because it dumps cholesterol into the arteries. Over time this hardens in the arteries and makes it difficult for blood to pass through.
A heart attack occurs when the deposits close off an artery, not allowing blood to pass through. HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is considered the good cholesterol because it carries cholesterol to the liver where it’s removed from the body.
You want your HDL levels to be at least 40 mg/dL and LDL levels to be less than 100 mg/dL. What you eat and how much physical you get plays a role in regulating these numbers. A lifestyle with little physical activity increases LDL levels and decreases HDL levels. In contrast, an active lifestyle increases HDL levels and decreases LDL levels.
Also, a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol can increase LDL levels. Remember, our bodies make all the cholesterol we need so we don’t need to get it from food.
