Identification
o Blood cholesterol is made up of two types: HDL, which is helpful to your body, and LDL, which is harmful. They each have separate functions within your system.
Significance
o LDL facilitates the buildup of plague in your arteries by transporting fat and dropping it off there. HDL facilitates the removal of plague in your arteries by transporting fat away. The less plague you have in your arteries, the less at risk you are for heart attack and stroke.
Potential
o The more HDL you have, the more carriers you have to take unhealthy plague out of your arteries. The optimal level is 60 mg per deciliter of blood. Levels below 40 mg per deciliter of blood for men and 50 mg per deciliter of blood for women are considered high risk.
Prevention/Solution
To help raise your HDL levels, eat a diet full of nuts, grains and vegetables and get in a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week. In general, focus on eating only fresh, whole, unprocessed foods: meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and nuts.
