Bad vs. Good Cholesterol Explained:
We all know that a "good" cholesterol level is under 200. As we age, it gets harder to keep our cholesterol levels below this point, even with the addition of the right kinds of foods in our diet. If you have spent a lifetime indulging in saturated fats, chances are, your cholesterol levels will be a lot higher than 200.
In recent years, the terms "good" and "bad" cholesterol have moved to the forefront of the discussion. This can be very confusing, especially if you are used to hearing that all cholesterol is bad.
HDL or the good cholesterol is defined as high density lipoprotein. This type of protein is responsible for keeping LDL cholesterol from building up in your blood stream. It actually scours through your blood stream, flushing harmful cholesterol from your body.
LDL or bad cholesterol is defined as low density lipoprotein. This protein is very sticky, and as such, clings to the walls of your arteries and builds up over time. Too much LDL puts you at risk for heart disease and/or sudden death from a heart attack.
The best time to start checking your cholesterol is in your early twenties. Early prevention of LDL build-up is the key to keeping your heart healthy. If you have never had a cholesterol check, now is a good time to ask your doctor to perform the test.
It is never to early to find out if you are at risk for heart disease due to a high cholesterol level. It will give you a chance to make changes now and reverse the existing damage by adding more HDL cholesterol to your diet.
The best guideline to follow is to avoid saturated fats at all costs. If you must eat something that is high in saturated fat, make sure to watch your portions and try adding healthful cholesterol "scrubbers" such as oatmeal and garlic to your diet to overcome the damage.
If you are looking for foods which contain HDL, you can start with vegetable oils that contain no saturated fat. Olive oil is by far the best way to enjoy using oil without worrying about harmful LDL cholesterol. Other oils that are heart-healthy include canola oil and peanut oil.
Adding nuts and avocados to your diet is also a good way to increase your HDL levels. In recent years, the benefits from nuts are becoming more apparent. Although they are high in overall fat content, it is "good" fat and the cholesterol benefits are high.
Foods to avoid include eggs, untrimmed meat and dairy products that are not made from low-fat or skimmed milk. By staying away from foods that raise your LDL levels and sticking with foods that raise your HDL levels you'll be on your way to a happy, healthy heart and good cholesterol test results.