Often, when we hear about our cholesterol levels, we automatically assume that this is a bad thing. High cholesterol is a well known cause of a variety of heart diseases and cancers and has gained a reputation as a killer. But the good cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol is essential if we are to remain healthy. If we do not know how to increase good cholesterol naturally, then we are setting ourselves up for a number of health problems.

What this HDL cholesterol does is that it stays in the bloodstream; essentially lining the blood vessels and disposing of the bad, or LDL, cholesterol. It would, therefore, be unhealthy to remove all cholesterol from your body, whilst also being practically impossible! The healthiest option is to ensure that you retain the HDL cholesterol by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol that you have in your body. (more…)

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced by your body and is also found in foods that come from animal sources (meat, milk products, eggs, poultry, and fish). Your body’s cells need cholesterol to function properly. However, excess cholesterol in the blood can build up inside your arteries (atherosclerosis), causing them to narrow. Atherosclerosis is the starting point for most heart and circulation problems.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream attached to protein, in a combination called a lipoprotein. Two lipoproteins are the main carriers of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). High-density lipoproteins contain more protein than they do fat. (more…)