There are four factors you want present on your cholesterol readings to be able to accurately interpret them for yourself. This helps you select the right treatment if any is needed, and puts you in control of your health.

Good cholesterol readings look like this:

Total Cholesterol: 200 mg/dl
LDL: Less than 100 mg/dl
HDL: At least 40 mg/dl
Triglyceride: Less than 150 mg/dl

Whilst many people focus on the total levels, this can in fact give a false reading of your health. It is the relationship between the LDL and HDL levels that is more important and here's why.

LDL or low-density lipoprotein is mostly made up of fat and only a little protein and excess amounts of this can lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

HDL or high-density lipoprotein on the other hand is composed mostly of protein and only a little fat and helps to remove excess LDL and return it to the liver for disposal. The more of this type you have, the better it is for your health.

Your triglyceride level is important, although it is a different type of fat, as it comes from your food. Most of it is stored as fat which is an important source of stored energy but some is also present in the blood and together with LDL can cause problems if too high.

As you can see from the example above, a 3 or 2:1 ratio of LDL to HDL is ideal and even if your total levels exceed 200, if you have a healthy amount of HDL, you are not necessarily at risk.

If you have had a test and want to improve your cholesterol readings, there are a number of ways to achieve it without having to use the harmful statin drugs which doctors all too readily prescribe today.

Taking more exercise is important as it helps to increase your HDL and can be in the form of a walk if you do not want to exert yourself too much!

Cutting down on saturated fats like those in dairy and red meat and eating more fruit, vegetables, oatmeal and fatty fish like tuna and hoki will also help.

As over 80% of your cholesterol comes from your liver, a natural cholesterol supplement can make a real difference as it helps to lower your overall production and reduce the absorption in the gut. The good ones have been shown to be as effective as the statin drugs but without the side effects.

I hope this sheds some light on your cholesterol readings and that you can see there are natural and highly effective ways you can maintain them at healthy levels to help you avoid heart disease.



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