We often hear raising good cholesterol is important in lowering the risk of heart disease and it can make a drastic difference to our state of health.

But what is good cholesterol and why is raising good cholesterol so important?

Well basically good cholesterol is a type of fat that can actually help to scour and mop up the bad type of cholesterol from our blood vessels. By raising good cholesterol levels, we can ensure we have as much support for our body as possible.

I’ve just added a new page detailing some of the ways that we can all raise the amounts of HDL’s in our blood thereby lowering LDL’s. Go here to read more about it – raising good cholesterol

We’ve all heard of Cholesterol and perhaps we may know that there are both good types of sources of cholesterol (HDL) and bad (LDL).

But did you know that Cholesterol is also an essential substance that’s actually made by the body which helps in all manner of ways but is especially important in the digestion and breakdown of foods.

Finally you should also know that Cholesterol can also be eaten and there are certain foods that contain more than others. Here’s a snippet from an article I recently added…

Cholesterol is derived from the Greek words chole (bile) and stereos (solid) ended by the suffix ol (alcohol). It is a waxy substance manufactured in the body for production of bile, vitamin D and some hormones like aldosterone, estrogen, and testosterone.

Sources of cholesterol, other than the human body itself, are some foods from animals. Cholesterol is not found in plants, thus food from plants are not sources of cholesterol.

Go here to read more – sources of cholesterol

If you’ve spent any amount of time on this site up until now you should realise that it’s not really your total cholesterol level that you should focus on, more the amount of good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol coursing through your body.

Nevertheless you’ll still be at high risk of stroke, heart attack and other associated problems if you have elevated cholesterol levels as these will cause a narrowing or a furring of the arteries, which increases blood pressure and possibly fully blocked arteries which stops the flow of blood to certain parts of the heart which in effect can kill off those affected areas.

Experts in cardiovascular diseases recommend that everyone above 20 years of age should check their total cholesterol level once in each period of five years. For Men at age 35 above and women above 45, have your total cholesterol level tested yearly for a lipid profile test to watch out for signs that may lead to heart diseases and other related illnesses on major parts of our body.

Go here to read more – total cholesterol level

Not all cholesterol is bad, in fact some types of cholesterol are actually desirable to have as much as possible. This type is called HDL or high density lipoprotein. The reason why this is so good is that it mops up LDL’s (low density lipoproteins) from around the blood vessels. It’s these LDL’s that we DON’T want as they stick to the walls of the blood vessels thereby narrowing the passage through which blood can move. This causes elevated blood pressure.

Exercise is a great way to raise good cholesterol levels in the body, as is a diet low in saturates, and trans fatty acids.

Certain foods can also help to lower LDL levels. Red wine is an alcoholic drink that has the potential to raise HDL’s because of its antioxidant properties that help ward off bad cholesterol from sticking to arterial walls, while its alcoholic content actually raises HDL levels to become more efficient at sweeping excess LDL cholesterol.

Other known foods found to have been able to raise good cholesterol include fish that are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, cranberry juice, and even calcium supplements. Including foods high in soluble fiber like oats, fruits and vegetables and legumes will also reduce bad cholesterol while increasing HDL levels.

Cholesterol test fasting is required 9 to 12 hours before the cholesterol test. It is very important to follow the fasting procedures to get the most accurate test result, most specially for the LDL or the Low-density lipoprotein, which is most commonly known as bad cholesterol. The LDL levels can be affected by the foods you eat, especially before the test.

This is the reason why you need to follow the procedure on cholesterol test fasting. This means no eating and drinking for nine hours before the test.

If you have to take medication, then ask your doctor how to proceed with the cholesterol test fasting, as he can give you an evaluation and tell you what to do. The cholesterol test produces the most accurate results after a period of complete fasting which is why it is needed. Find out more here – cholesterol test fasting

If you’ve been asked to take part in a fasting cholesterol test by your doctor this is because it is the most accurate way to measure your cholesterol levels.

In taking an accurate fasting cholesterol test reading, you need to fast for a period of eight to twelve hours. Within this time, you’re not allowed to eat any solid food. Water is fine, but not coffee, tea or soda because they may skew the test results. For those who cannot refrain from eating during the time  period, it is recommended that the test be scheduled first thing in the morning, this way there’s less interruption to a normal schedule.

In addition, your doctor will make allowances for prescription medication that still need to be taken, even while doing the fasting cholesterol test. Some medication affect cholesterol levels and allowances should be made regarding this.

Click on this link to read more – fasting cholesterol test

Did you know that there are different types of cholesterol, some good and some bad.

By definition, cholesterol is a fat-like substance which is essential for the normal functioning of our body systems.  Benefits of different types of cholesterol include synthesis of bile acid in the liver, maintenance of cell membrane integrity of all body tissues and even the synthesis of steroid hormones and other lipids.

Cholesterol is also important in the synthesis of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. However, our body only needs a limited amount of cholesterol and when too much is already present inside the body, possible health complications might actually develop.  But before you decide to totally get rid of cholesterol-rich food, you must first understand that there are different types of cholesterol…

Go here to read more about the different types of cholesterol, and that you can actually still consume some of these in moderation.

Before we begin, it must be mentioned that there is not neccessarily any relationship between alcohol and cholesterol, only that too much of either isn’t going to be good for your health.

Likewise in smaller controlled amounts neither will do you too much harm, especially if the cholesterol your adding to your diet helps to increase the amounts of HDL’s and lowers LDL’s in the blood.

An occasional drink may be beneficial too because this can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol which hinders relaxation and everyday weight manangement ability.

Now, before you go to the nearest bar and order yourself some wine and beer to toast to your heart, you must remind yourself that the studies are still inconclusive. Also, that over imbibing of alcohol does more damage – it causes multiple organ diseases including cardiac arrests.

We’ve all heard of cholesterol and we know that too much of it can be bad for us, but what exactly is the official cholesterol definition?

What is it?

Is it all bad?

Well not exactly, and it’s actually quite an important point that you fully understand because even though a high cholesterol number means that the body has an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, the most common of which are heart diseases.

The reason being that the cholesterol tends to cling to the sides of the arteries, leaving little room for blood and oxygen flowing to the heart.

This dangerous constriction or narrowing of the arteries is what manifests in chest pains and tightness eventually leading to a high probability of heart attack.

So take a look here to find out the correct cholesterol definition so you understand the whole story

Dietary cholesterol is the type that we eat in foods that contain cholesterol such as eggs, prawns and kidney.

Whilst this type of cholesterol can increase cholesterol levels in the blood, it is the saturates found in other foods such as dairy and red meats that has the biggest impact on our health.

A diet which is high in fresh fruits and vegetables can help you to lower your cholesterol levels and some types of fats actually assist in lowering them also.

Whilst reducing your intake of dietary cholesterol is important, it is also a vital factor to reduce or at least attempt to eliminate altogether the amount of saturated fat you eat each day.

This article discusses this in detail – dietary cholesterol

Total Cholesterol levels are important to monitor as it is a classic indicator that your bad levels of cholesterol are too high.

But doctors are also interested in the actual ratio of HDL to LDL  cholesterol levels.

It’s actually quite important that you know the difference between these good and bad types of cholesterol. One will help you whilst the other one will increase the fatty plaque deposits on the inside of your blood vessel walls.

The following article discusses in detail exactly what ratios mean, how high your total cholesterol levels should be and the risks of being outside of these parameters.

Click here to find out more - Total Cholesterol Levels

We all need Cholesterol to function properly this is a fact, but we only need a certain amount. Any over and above this healthy level can be harmful and detrimental to our well being.

But what is the proper Cholesterol structure and how can it be both good and bad?

Ultimately the correct Cholesterol structure allows the body to make bile chemicals which aid digestion and help to breakdown the things we eat and drink in the digestive system. As well as helping to manufacture bile it plays a role in creating hormones and utilizing vitamin D.

Whilst Cholesterol is vital to everyday, healthy functioning of the body, high cholesterol levels in the blood can build up and cause long term damage to the arteries which can potentially lead to angina and heart disease.

Take a look here to read more about Cholesterol structure and the importance of GOOD Cholesterol in a healthy person.

Welcome to What is Good Cholesterol.com

This site is all about Cholesterol. Reducing your levels of bad Cholesterol (LDL’s) and increasing your levels of good Cholesterol (HDL’s). We’ll look at ways of reducing the overall levels of Cholesterol in your blood and ways to keep it lower through a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

You’ll find loads of great information and hints and tips to help you become much healthier and happier.

Please bookmark this site and come back often to check out the new article’s that we’ll be adding as there will be some golden nuggets of information for you to use and all for FREE.

Here’s the home page – What Is Good Cholesterol