Is There Good And Bad Blood Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an odorless soft waxy substance. Your body needs cholesterol to function normally (for an example; as a component of cell membranes and for the production of many hormones, Vitamin D, and bile acids, which are important for the absorption of fat). Cholesterol is present in all parts of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscle, skin liver and intestines, heart, skeleton, etc.

Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by the saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet, but also by the cholesterol your body produces. As a matter of fact, your body produces all the cholesterol it needs, and the saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet only serve to increase your blood cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol travels in blood packages called lipoproteins. All lipoproteins are formed in the liver and carry cholesterol through out the body.  Blood cholesterol packaged in low density lipoproteins (LDLs) is transported from the liver to other parts of the body where it can be used.  LDLs carry most of the cholesterol in the blood, and if not removed from the blood, cholesterol and fat can build up in the arteries contributing to atherosclerosis.  This is why LDL cholesterol is often called "bad cholesterol". Cholesterol is also packaged in a high density Lipoproteins (HDLs). HDLs carry cholesterol back to the liver for processing or removal from the body. HDLs, therefore, help remove cholesterol from the blood, preventing the accumulation of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries. Thus they are often referred to as "good cholesterol".

LDL and HDL levels provide information on your risk of developing coronary heart disease. A high LDL cholesterol level or a low HDL cholesterol level puts you at increased risk. LDL and HDL cholesterol levels more accurately predict your risk for coronary heart disease than a total cholesterol level alone.

Coronary Heart Disease Is The Leading
Cause Of Death and Disability for Both Men & Women

More than 50 percent of all adults in America have an increase risk of coronary heart disease because of elevated cholesterol levels.  Medical professionals and journals have noted that elevated plasma totals and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are major risk factors for coronary heart disease, and the reduction of LDL cholesterol in high risk individuals leads to lower incidence of fatal and nonfatal cardiac events. When referring to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, approximately 57 percent of adult Americans have borderline high or high total cholesterol concentrations and are candidates for cholesterol lowering programs.

Key factors that may determine cholesterol levels