TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

 LDL ("BAD")   CHOLESTEROL

   HDL ("GOOD")

   CHOLESTEROL

 TRIGLYCERIDES

High:                         above 240

Borderline:                200  to  239

Desirable:                below 200

Desirable:       below  130

For people with heart or kidney disease, diabetes, or several risk factors: below  100

For very high risk people: 
 below 70

Low:                 below 40

Desirable:           females 55 or higher
 males   45 or higher

Desirable:        below 150

Optimal:

below 100

Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance.  Your body uses cholesterol to function normally and to produce certain hormones and other essential substances. 

Cholesterol is present in all parts of the body including the brain and nervous system, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, heart, skeleton, etc.  Your body can produce all the cholesterol required to meet these needs, but it also uses some of the cholesterol in the foods you eat.  Cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals (meat, milk, etc). Cholesterol is not found in foods that come from plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, etc).

The cholesterol level of your blood is affected by:

  - the cholesterol your body produces

  - the saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber

 and total calories in your diet. 

High blood cholesterol levels increase your risk of heart disease.

LDLs carry most of the cholesterol in the blood, and they can build up in the arteries and contribute to heart disease.  This is why LDL is often called bad cholesterol.

LDL can often be reduced with a low saturated fat, low cholesterol, high fiber diet

Saturated fats are found mainly in high fat dairy products (butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream), fatty meats (sausage, bacon, prime rib, hot dogs, bologna), and coconut and palm oil.  Unsaturated fats found in nuts, peanut butter, olive oil, and canola oil do not raise your LDL level.  High fiber foods that can help reduce your LDL include whole grain breads and cereals, oatmeal, barley, vegetables, and fruits, and dried peas and beans.

Drug therapy may be prescribed if LDL does not respond to diet and lifestyle changes.

High LDL levels increase your risk of heart disease.

 HDLs carry cholesterol back to the liver for processing or removal ,and, therefore, help prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries.  HDLs are often referred to as good cholesterol.

If  HDLs are low (below 40), it is a risk factor for heart disease, even if your total cholesterol is less than 200. 
You have a lower risk for developing coronary heart disease if your HDLs are high. 

To help raise HDLs, lose weight, become physically active and quit smoking.  Including some unsaturated fats on a daily basis (a handful of nuts or a serving of peanut butter) may also help increase your HDL level.

The lower your HDLs, the greater your risk for heart disease. 

Triglycerides are a type of fat.  The majority of the fats that you eat are triglycerides.  The liver can also make triglycerides after you have eaten too many calories, especially calories from sugar or alcohol. 

Weight loss and regular exercise are the best ways to reduce triglycerides. 

In addition, avoid most sweet drinks (soda, fruit juice, fruit drinks), reduce the amount of starchy foods (breads, rice, pasta, potato, corn) at meals, and limit sweet snacks or desserts to small servings.  Eating several small meals per day rather one or two large meals can also help reduce triglycerides.

Limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.  One drink is a 12 ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

High triglyceride levels increase your risk of heart disease and very high levels can lead to pancreatitis.