Did you know your liver can produce all the cholesterol your body needs? But, a resourceful little organ, when we have
cholesterol in our body from foods that we eat, the liver creates little bundles of fat and protein called "lipoproteins." There are two kinds of lipoproteins:
- High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). Think "H" for Healthy. HDL's are considered beneficial to the body because they carry excess cholesterol from the bloodstream back to the liver for removal. Your HDL should be greater than 40 mg/dl for men and greater than 0 mg/dl for women.
- Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). Think "L" for Lousy. LDL's can clog up your arteries and inhibit blood flow. Keeping your LDL lower than 100 mg/dl is optimal.
- Triglycerides are another form of fat that circulates in your blood. Tri-Gs are deposited in muscles for energy or are stored in fat cells. Your triglycerides should be lower than 150 mg/dl.
Your total cholesterol should be less that 200 mg/dl. Eating healthy foods and staying active can help keep your cholesterol in control. To learn more check out the American Heart Association's
common misconceptions about cholesterol.
