Cholesterol comes in two major forms and it is important to not only understand the difference between the two forms, but also understand the types of foods that increase “good” cholesterol while lowering “bad” cholesterol. Only through such understanding can you choose a diet that can lower your risk of developing coronary heart disease and help prevent a heart attack or stroke.
HDL versus LDL Cholesterol
Because cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood, it must be transported by lipoproteins to and from the cells within the body. HDL, or “good” cholesterol is high density lipoprotein and it carries up to 1/3 of the blood cholesterol throughout the body. HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because high levels of HDL have been shown to protect against heart disease and heart attack. LDL, on the other hand, is considered to be “bad” cholesterol. When excessive amounts of low density lipoprotein are in the blood, it can accumulate within the inner walls of the arteries over time and form plague that can restrict blood flow through the arteries.
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