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Showing posts with the label Heart Health

Understanding LDL and HDL Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Cholesterol is a type of fat present in our blood that is necessary for the normal functioning of our body. However, an excessive amount of cholesterol can lead to a variety of health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). What is the function of HDL and LDL? LDL is often referred to as "bad cholesterol" because it carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body, where it can build up in the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, HDL, or "good cholesterol," carries excess cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver, where it can be broken down and eliminated from the body. What is normal high and low-density lipoprotein? Ideally, the total cholesterol level in the blood should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A level between 200-239 mg/dL is consider...