Health Articles

The healthy cholesterol range for human beings is below 200mg/dL. These numbers are the normal total cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream, which includes LDL (bad), HDL (good) and triglycerides. Just as important as the total is the HDL amount. When it comes to HDL, more is better, with the ideal ratio of LDL to HDL to be 4.4:1.

You can check your own ratio by doing this simple calculation: divide your LDL measurement value with your HDL measurement value. If this ratio is below 4.4, you should try to raise your HDL level by exercising more.

A healthy person should have their blood profiles screening test done on a regular basis. The American Heart Association recommends testing every five years for anyone aged 20 or older. Doctors may recommend a test for younger people if they are obese or have other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and smoking (yes, smoking is a risk factor.. that’s why life insurance premium is higher for smokers than non smokers).

If you smoke, controlling this habit to the stage where you can quit can be very difficult.. but you must try to stop. Your heart is at risk, because smoking causes the LDL in your blood to be oxidized, and oxidized LDL forms plaques in blood vessels quickly.. This is no new information to a lot of smokers, so make a wise decision yourself.

Some of the things that cause unhealthy cholesterol levels include obesity and excessive alcohol intake. Lack of exercise plays a role as well. Hormonal imbalances and dysfunction of the glandular system are less common causes. Certain genetic diseases and heredity are also factors.

In order to stay in the healthy cholesterol range, a diet that is very low in saturated fat is recommended. Less than 7% of daily calories should come from saturated fats, which include egg yolks, cheese, beef, pork and poultry.

Trans-fats, which are partially hydrogenated unsaturated fats, should be avoided. Total fat intake plays a larger role in blood serum levels than does the cholesterol itself. The type of fat that you eat is also important.

Plant foods, such as nuts and flax seed, contain healthy cholesterol-like substances, called phytosterols. This is the kind of fat that is a necessary dietary components. Most nutritionists recommend 25-30% of your total caloric intake should come from fat, but plant oil and fatty fish are the best choices for dietary fat.

A healthy HDL or good cholesterol range is 60mg/dL or higher.. however, if yours is higher than this, it’s better. There’s no “highest” limit when it comes to HDL. Just remember the 4.4 ratio mentioned above.

According to the American Heart Association, higher HDL levels provide some protections against heart disease. As HDL travels through the bloodstream, it picks up LDL particles and carries them back to the liver, thus causes the reduction of LDL concentration in your blood. This prevents the particles from building up inside the arterial walls and forming hard plaques.