Guide to Cholesterol Readings

There are two types of cholesterol, the good cholesterol, which is High-Density Lipoprotein or HDL and the bad cholesterol which is Low-Density Lipoprotein or LDL; learning cholesterol readings can help you be in control of your cholesterol levels and thus, ensure that you are healthy at all times. Cholesterol is an important and essential substance in our body that helps produce different types of hormones, cell membrane and builds tissue however, because it is a waxy, fatty like substance, in large quantities it can clog your arteries and stop the blood's flow to the vital parts of your body such as the heart. High levels of LDL, which is the bad cholesterol poses a directly treat to your heart and leads to heart attacks therefore, you need to watch your cholesterol levels at all times.

Cholesterol Readings Made Easy

The good cholesterol or the HDL helps eliminate the bad cholesterol from your arteries and therefore we need to keep its levels high. Both types of cholesterols are produced by the body in the liver and are also eliminated through it; cholesterol is also provided to our body through the food we eat. If you are at the doctor's office looking at the cholesterol readings you will have the numbers divided into HDL, LDL and Triglyceride and for a healthy adult the number should be approximately as follows: LDL 160mg/dL or less, HDL 50mg/dL or more and triglyceride less then 200.

Please note that these cholesterol numbers are just an approximate and may differ vastly from person to person depending on your individual weight and present state of health. If you are conducting a home cholesterol test the cholesterol readings will be provided as a total number of your HDL and LDL together. Being aware of what are your ideal cholesterol levels is extremely important so you can interpret the cholesterol readings right and work on improving the levels as needed.

Helpful Tips

You will find that bad cholesterol is found in most of the food items which are on the list of healthy diet foods such as, fish, poultry, seafood, egg yolks and diary products but that does not mean you must stop eating them but watch the quantities of food you eat. Food items derived from plants such as, fruits and vegetables as well as cereals promote you good cholesterol and therefore you should ensure you have the required amounts everyday.