You don’t have to be a health freak or body-builder to appreciate the significance of cholesterol. In the world of health, cholesterol is often misunderstood and underestimated. It is completely necessary for the growth of the human body, but can also lead to devastating health problems if used improperly (or misused).

It is important, when choosing a diet or making lifestyle choices, to differentiate between the different kinds of cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is widely considered to be the good kind of cholesterol. It is responsible for many important bodily functions including the maintenance of cell walls.

LDL cholesterol, or low-density, is the bad kind of cholesterol. An overabundance of LDL cholesterol in the human body can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and even stroke. If your family has a history of heart problems, it’s important not only to monitor your cholesterol intake, but also to get regular cholesterol readings from your healthcare professional.

What Cholesterol Readings Can Do For You

Cholesterol readings typically include an LDL cholesterol reading, an HDL cholesterol reading and a total cholesterol reading. You might instinctively gravitate towards the total cholesterol reading, but it really isn’t the most important number. Be sure to keep your eyes on the whole picture.

Generally, you want to keep your total cholesterol below 200. A borderline reading may be as high as the 230s, but anything above 240 should raise some serious red flags. LDL cholesterol should ideally remain below 130. If it strays into the 160s, you’ll want to start making some fairly significant dietary changes. Lastly, HDL cholesterol should remain above 45. Anything below 40 should give you pause.

Cholesterol readings should be performed regularly by your healthcare professional, but only as a precaution. In between visits to the doctor, there are a number of things that you can do yourself to keep bad cholesterol at bay. Choose a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, in the form of fish and dark meat, and be sure to get four to six servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Avoid foods that are high in fat, as they tend to raise blood cholesterol levels.

When all is said and done, cholesterol is nothing to get panicked about. The best remedies for high cholesterol truly are common sense. Be sensible in the foods you eat, and you’ll most likely never have to worry about it.