The Facts

• Too much bad cholesterol (LDL), can lead to coronary artery disease and even heart failure. That is why maintaining HDL, particularly levels over 50 mg/dL, can keep your pathways open for blood to travel safely. HDL usually lines the walls of blood vessels, cleaning out the excess cholesterol that can potentially cause heart failure or stroke. Many of the foods we consume every day can contain an abundance of chemicals and fats that can cause damage later in life. All in all, only 30 percent of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL within healthy humans.
  
  

Function

• HDL works kind of like a cleaning fluid that is poured into a clogged drain. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that makes its home within the bloodstream and all of the body's primary cells. The main organ that controls inbound and outbound cholesterol is the liver. The liver packages cholesterol, along with other proteins, into tiny circular spheres called lipoproteins. The lipoproteins are released into the blood, and are delivered throughout the body. The cells remove any excess cholesterol whenever they need to.
  
  

Misconceptions

• People tend to have misconceptions about cholesterol, in that they believe every type of cholesterol is bad cholesterol; that is not the case. HDL cholesterol is the type that all people want to have more of, and acquiring higher levels of it is not out the question. A lot of individuals also believe that once bad cholesterol is in the system, it must be immediately eradicated; this is not always the case. HDL sometimes even acts as a transportation unit, which takes the bad cholesterol back to the liver for rehabilitation.
  
  

Considerations

• Acquiring healthy cholesterol doesn't involve just eating the right foods--this lifestyle is merely one of the essential ways to keep your pathways clear. Other important methods for maintaining healthy cholesterol include:
  
  * Regular exercise
  * Dieting
  * Limiting cigarette smoke and alcohol intake
  * Avoiding fatty foods
  * Using supplements such as vitamins and omega 3 fish oil
  * Eating foods with plenty of fiber
  
  

Solution

• Men and women need to have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every two years. With the amount of chemicals in most foods these days, one can never be too sure of themselves, especially when it deals with such an important element of the body. Men generally have lower HDL in their bodies than women, which is why they have a higher risk for heart disease. By going to regular checkups, eating well, exercising, and limiting drug use, you decrease the potential for cardiovascular diseases.