What is LDL and HDL cholesterol?
LDL and HDL cholesterol are technical terms used for the types of cholesterol found in the blood. Sometimes they are referred to just as “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. “Bad” cholesterol is really low-density lipoprotein (LDL). “Good” cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL and HDL work in opposition of each other. It is important to keep one’s LDL level low since it carries cholesterol to the arteries and can lead to cholesterol buildup. At the same time, HDL removes cholesterol from the arteries so it is good to have a high level of HDL. High levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol can be a risk factor for heart disease while high HDL levels seem to be protective against heart disease. Want to keep them straight? Always remember that the “L” in LDL (bad) cholesterol means “lousy” cholesterol.
