Understanding Cholesterol
by Amy White, MA, LMHC

There is a lot of discussion in the literature and in the media these days about cholesterol. Yet, many people don't really understand what cholesterol is and what it does. Cholesterol is a fat compound found in some animal foods, such as: meat, eggs, and full-fat dairy products. Total Cholesterol is a measure of HDL, LDL and VLDL in the blood

> HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is "good" blood cholesterol, composed of mostly protein
	. HDL transports cholesterol in your blood back to the liver to get rid of it
	. Higher levels of HDL are associated with heart health
> LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is "bad" cholesterol, composed mainly of fat
	. You want low levels of LDL circulating in your blood
	. LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease
> VLDL is converted to LDL
	. Triglyceride level (TG) is a measure of the amount of circulating fat in the blood

A high level of triglyceride is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

In the famous Framingham Study, within a 45-year period, no one with a cholesterol level below 150 died of a heart attack. The higher the cholesterol, the more plaque build up in the arteries - the more coronary deaths . Twenty-five percent of all heart attacks occur in patients with cholesterol levels between 180-210. In addition to heart disease, there is also a strong correlation between a high fat diet and:

. Breast cancer
. Colon cancer
. Possibly the progression of prostate cancer
. Diabetes
. Hypertension
. Atherosclerosis

Cholesterol levels are most often determined by: the amount of cholesterol you eat, the amount and type of fat you eat, and the amount and type of fiber in your diet. The good news is that most people can establish and maintain a low cholesterol level simply by lifestyle choices: proper nutrition and exercise.