Cholesterol

Blood Cholesterol

There are several types of cholesterol found in our blood. Blood cholesterol can be classified as 'good' or 'bad' or preferably 'healthy' or 'lousy'. High levels of 'lousy' cholesterol circulating in the blood are strongly linked to atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. Over time the arteries can become so narrow that blood cannot travel through them which leads to a heart attack or stroke. However, high levels of the healthy form of cholesterol decreases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

The healthy type of cholesterol is called High Density Lipoprotein, or HDL. HDL acts as a scavenger in the blood by helping to decrease the levels of the 'lousy' type of cholesterol called Low Density Lipoprotein, or LDL. Although other lipids, including very low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides, make up our total blood cholesterol profile, HDL and LDL are the main types.

A Word about Dietary Cholesterol

Cholesterol in our diet does not directly turn into cholesterol in our bodies. In fact, our liver produces approximately 80% of the cholesterol in our blood all by itself. Dietary fats account for the production of the remaining 20%, so in fact what we eat affects the cholesterol in our blood. Replacing saturated and trans saturated fats in our diets with healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats lowers our 'lousy' cholesterol and can even increase our healthy cholesterol levels. For this reason health professionals advise choosing healthy types of fats.