Taking the good with the bad: Understanding cholesterol

Jul 28, 2017

Person tossing a salad — A healthy diet is important to maintaining safe cholesterol levels.

The term “cholesterol” may conjure images of serious health issues, but there is also a good form of the waxy substance. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the bad cholesterol, while high density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good stuff. Your body has both.

LDL vs. HDL

“When we measure cholesterol, what we’re really measuring is the protein that binds to the cholesterol. HDL tends to pull cholesterol from inside the arteries so it doesn’t build up,” said Dr. Nicholas Wyskoarko, a Marshfield Clinic cardiologist. “LDL is the cholesterol that tends to collect inside the artery walls.”

Some cholesterol occurs naturally within the body, and some occurs because of what we eat. Bad cholesterol is found in foods high in trans or saturated fats.

Promoting healthy cholesterol levels

Eating foods like oats, beans, vegetables, fish and certain fruits can help you reach healthier cholesterol levels, while smoking is bad for maintaining healthy cholesterol. Wyskoarko also advises staying away from too much alcohol. He recommends accompanying a healthy diet with regular exercise if you’re looking to maintain your cholesterol at a healthy level or lower it.

“Exercising helps manage weight, which tends to manage cholesterol overall,” Wyskoarko said. “Moderate exercise for 30 minutes per day, five days per week can help increase good cholesterol.”

Dangers of too much bad cholesterol

Wyskoarko said too much bad cholesterol can lead to build up inside arteries in the brain, neck, heart, legs and throughout the body. When cholesterol builds up inside arteries, blood flow decreases, and risk for things like heart disease, heart attack and stroke increases.

Target numbers

Each person’s cholesterol is based on their genetic background and lifestyle choices. For patients without other complications, like diabetes or atherosclerosis, a good number for total cholesterol, HDL plus LDL, is less than 200, with HDL above 40 and LDL less than 130. For a person with a history of diabetes mellitus or atherosclerotic disease, Wyskoarko said he likes to see LDL cholesterol around 70.

Talk with your medical provider to determine your target cholesterol numbers.

3 responses to “Taking the good with the bad: Understanding cholesterol”

Deb

Sep 10, 2020

My family gave up sugar & grains; I believe sugar/grains are the culprit of heart disease, not cholesterol. As we don't believe it's healthy to eat factory farm meat, we do eat a high fat (no trans fats!) pastured meat and/or wild game & our carbohydrates come from our veggies and occasional seasonal fruits. Not only have we lost weight but our triglycerides run below 60. Some studies have stated that more people (although only slightly more) with LOW cholesterol levels have heart disease. So it seems more like 50/50 as far as the number of people with high/low cholesterol with heart disease. Cholesterol is made up of small particles & large fluffy particles; the large fluffy type is said to be protective.

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Larry McClean

Sep 10, 2020

You should also say what foods to avoid….., i.e. animal products, meat, dairy etc etc. Give people some references like the movie, "Forks Over Knives",
also the book "The China Study". Tell the truth, the farmers can turn to producing protein from plants instead of animals. Also helps the environment.
I think the new guidelines that are coming out at the end of the year state than meat & dairy are not essential. This will REALLY help the cholesterol levels return to where they should be without medication.

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George D. Beiser MD

Sep 6, 2019

For patients without diabetes or arteriosclerosis I would place LDL goal closer to 100 mg percent.

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