The Good and Bad Side Of Cholesterol

When you think of the phrase “high cholesterol”, you don’t typically think that there are two separate types. People just think of the overall term. But there’s a “good” and a “bad” cholesterol. But both are vital to your overall health. We at ThirdAge would like to take this opportunity to review the differences between the two of them. We will also touch on some foods and activities that are ideal for getting your cholesterol level to an optimal level and keeping it there.

Bad Cholesterol - LDL The “bad” cholesterol, otherwise known as Low-Density Lipoprotein or LDL, is a fatty, sticky substance that travels through the bloodstream transporting the essential nutrition and fats to various parts of the body. If these fatty tissues are delivered in normal amounts, the body can benefit from receiving them. But if there’s excess LDL, it will remain in the arteries, and that can increase the risks of developing a number of health conditions from atherosclerosis to cardiovascular disease.

Good Cholesterol – HDL The “good” form of cholesterol is known as high-density lipoproteins or HDL’s. Their role is to collect excess LDL throughout the body and take it back to the liver to be disposed of. By removing excess LDLs, the risk of serious health problems drops dramatically.

Controlling Cholesterol If you have bad cholesterol levels, it is essential that you change your lifestyle habits as soon as you can. Keeping a healthy diet is the first step. The next is exercise.

Lean Meats Cooking lean, skinless meats is a healthy, tasty way of getting your cholesterol to an optimal level.

Fruits And Veggies Fruits and veggies are a great addition to your lean meats. They taste terrific and are a healthy alternative to junk foods. And they don’t raise your cholesterol levels.

Exercise And Quitting Smoking Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight ,along with an exercise routine, are vital for keeping LDL levels down and HDL levels up. Another key way to lower cholesterol: Quit smoking. It’s known to raise LDL levels whiles inhibiting HDLs from doing their job effectively.