Taking A Closer Look At HDL (Good Cholesterol) and LDL (Bad Cholesterol)

Taking A Closer Look At LDL (Bad Cholesterol) and

HDL (Good Cholesterol)

Whether your cholesterol comes from food or your liver, it travels

through the bloodstream in

particles called lipoproteins. The fatty

substance in lipoproteins include cholesterol and triglycerides,

which we should add are the most common fatty substance in the

human body. The proteins that

combine with fats to produce

lipoproteins are called apolipoproteins, often abbreviated apo.

The lipoproteins we know as LDL and HDL start out as chylomicrons, which are particles your

intestinal cells

assemble from the proteins and fats you consume at the dinner table. Chylomicrons

are very, very low

density particles. In cholesterol jargon the lower the density the more dangerous.

These tiny particles start out with almost no protein and a lot of light and feathery fat and cholesterol.

they flow through your bloodstream from your intestines on their way to your liver, the chylomicrons

release

their fats, known as triglycerides, into your blood. This stripped down chylomicron, also known

as a

chylomicron remnant, still contains cholesterol and protein. At this point, the remnant slides into

your liver

and fat comes back into the picture.

If you have every had a chance to evaluate foods that are high in fat you know liver is right at the top of

every list. In fact a 3 oz portion of beef liver has an astonishing 330 mg of cholesterol. As you now know,

your liver is a veritable fat and cholesterol factory that collects fat fragments from your blood and uses

them

to make cholesterol and new fats that your body can use to build tissue and perform other

physiological

functions.

When our friendly chylomicron hits the liver, its picks up fat particles and mutates into the largest kind of

lipoprotein. This virtual fat and cholesterol bomb is called a VDLD or very low density lipoprotein.

From the liver our friendly artery clogging VDLD makes it way out into the bloodstream. In its travels it

drops

large amounts of fat, picks up large amounts of cholesterol, and changes into a slightly smaller,

heavier

particle called an intermediate low density lipoprotein or IDL, and then a slightly smaller, heavier

low density

lipoprotein (LDL).

The last step in our chylomicrons evolution occurs when an LDL has dropped so much fat and cholesterol

into body tissue that it’s now becomes mostly protein. After all that we finally arrive with what is considered

good cholesterol or HDL.

Why are HDLs considered to be good cholesterol

So now we know HDL is considered good cholesterol and it would

make good health sense to have

as much

HDL hanging around as

possible but what is

the reason behind this assumption? The fact

that our friendly

HDLs don’t

carry cholesterol into our arteries because

they’re so compact and

so dense

that they can’t

squeeze through the

spaces in the walls of our arteries. As

result, HDLs

and their payload

of cholesterol

travel away from the arteries

and toward the flashing neon

exit sign,

and then out of the body in form of solid

waste.

It is probably fair to categorize HDLs as scavenger molecules that remove cholesterol from the arteries.

Having large numbers of HDLs traveling through the system is a heart healthy formula for reducing the

risk

of heart attack and stroke regardless of how high your total cholesterol might be.

Recent X-ray studies have shown that people who raise their HDLs by exercising, putting the

kibosh

cigarette smoking, consuming HDL boosting foods, or taking medications or supplements

to reduce

overall

cholesterol levels have a good chance of seeing a markedly decrease in dangerous

arterial plaque.

Are all LDLs bad?

The simple answer is maybe not but an explanation is certainly needed. Today

most doctors classify

LDL as

bad and that having large numbers of light and

fluffy LDLs capable of squeezing through your

artery walls

and leaving a

present

of fat deposited is considered a giant negative in reducing the risk

heart attack.

The quandary that was driving this particular research study was why do some people with

boatloads

LDLs floating through their system seem to be able to avoid a coronary event. Was it simply

good

luck or

something more?

Researchers exploring longevity ran various tests on 213 senior citizens plus 216 of their children

and

grandchildren. For comparison, they ran the same tests on a control group of non blood relatives,

such

the children’s husbands and wives. What the tests revealed was a surprise to everyone:

The seasoned

citizens were three times more likely than other people to have a mutation in a gene

that regulates

cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), an enzyme that influences the size of

lipoproteins. As a result,

compared with other people, including those non related husbands and

wives, even the seasoned citizens

who had high levels of LDLs had relatively larger low density

lipoproteins. It is important to point out that

their HDLs (good cholesterol) molecules were also larger.

The study concluded that the level of LDLs doesn’t necessarily predict heart disease. It is the size of

the

LDLs that is the ultimate determiner of risk. Put in another way, having many small LDLs may raise

the risk

of heart attack even if your overall cholesterol level is low.

LDL and HDL ranges

LDL: Less than 100 mg/dl optimal; 100 – 129 near optimal; 130 – 159 borderline high; 160 -189 high;

190

and above dangerously high

HDL: Over 60 optimal; 40 – 59 borderline to poor; below 40 dangerously low

Heart healthy ratios

for HDL and LDL

As well as heart healthy ranges there are also some ratios worth mentioning, that of total cholesterol

to HDL

and HDL to LDL.

Cholesterol to HDL: Lowest risk of heart attack 3.8 and below for women and 2.9 and below for men;

low risk

of heart attack 3.9 – 4.7 for women and 3 – 3.6 for men; moderate 4.9 -5.9 for women and

3.7 to 4.6 for

men; high risk 6.0 - 6.9 for women and 4.7 – 5.6 for men; and finally over 7.0 for women

and above 5.7 is

the high risk category.

There also is the ratio between LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol). Most cardiologist

recommend that you have no more than twice as much LDL and HDL. This number is suggest for people

with no family or previous history of cardiovascular disease. If you do have a history of cardiovascular

disease or have two or more know risk factors (age, smoking, obesity, high stress levels) for coronary

artery

disease then the ratios tighten up a bit with 1 HDL for every 1.4 LDL molecules being the

suggested ratio.

erbal and Homeopathic Remedies

for

holesterol

Manag

ment

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice provided by your physician or
other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or
prescribing any medication. You should read carefully all product packaging and labels. If you have or suspect that you have a medical
problem, promptly contact your physician or health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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