Understanding LDL and HDL Cholesterol
It turns out that just total cholesterol in most cases, says little about the risk of disease (except in extreme cases, the genetic abnormalities). Much safer risk rating is obtained by looking at the distribution of blood lipids.
The problem with this is that it immediately becomes more complicated. The message that “high cholesterol is dangerous” is easily understood. To begin analyzing the distribution of different parts may require more knowledge than most people are interested.
Most of the fat in the blood carried in small “packages” called lipoproteins. They can easily be divided in order of:
VLDL – are called “triglycerides” of test results
LDL
HDL
A common cholesterol test provides an answer to the above, and the total amount.
VLDL and LDL – “bad cholesterol”
“Bad cholesterol” is what many usually call LDL. However, it is vital, and only dangerous if you get too much of certain parts of it.
The fat you eat is transported first to the liver, where it is compacted into large containers called VLDL. These are released into the blood and binds to the cells intermittently in the body that needs the addition of fat (for energy or as building materials).
As more and more of the fat is taken up VLDL shrinks more and more, and when the krymt to a certain size, it is called LDL. Until LDL is taken up entirely by a cell, it continues to shrink more and become an ever smaller and denser LDL particle.
It has been shown that the smaller and denser, the easier it has become oxidized and trapped in the damaged vessel wall. Hence it can be involved in the process that provides cardiovascular disease (which also depends on many other processes).
Interestingly, it is increasing the amount of the smallest most dangerous LDL is not fat, but large amounts of fast carbohydrates in the diet – more on that below!
HDL – “good cholesterol”
HDL is called the packaging can take up excess cholesterol from the body and transporting it back to the liver (the opposite of LDL). High levels of HDL lowers statistically the risk of heart disease significantly. We speculate that it is because it can take away fat and cholesterol stored in the container walls through small LDL. What raises the protective HDL is the most natural fats such as saturated fat. Large amounts of fast carbohydrates lowers rather than normal HDL.
By keeping a healthy diet and by exercising regularly, you will be able to raise your good cholesterol levels, while reducing bad cholesterol levels. By making improvements in your lifestyle, you will be able to maintain your total cholesterol levels in check. Proper physical activity is very important to keep blood cholesterol levels in check. Regular exercise improves blood circulation and helps reduce cholesterol. Exercise often and you will be able to maintain normal cholesterol levels and lose the extra weight.