Understanding The Serum HDL Cholesterol Level Will Help Protect You Against Heart Disease

Often times when you hear about high cholesterol, you tend to think of it as being a bad thing. This isn't necessarily the case, however, when it comes to the serum HDL cholesterol level.

In fact, a high HDL level is actually a good thing and provides a better opportunity for a healthier cardiovascular system.

HDL, or good cholesterol, is used to collect excess amounts of bad cholesterol in the bloodstream, which is then carried to the liver, where it is processed.

HDL cholesterol usually makes up 25% to 30% of the total amount of cholesterol found in the blood stream.

Levels lower than this are considered lower than the acceptable amount.

For men, anything lower than 40 mg/dL is considered low, and anything below 50 mg/dL is considered low for women.

The level that most will want to shoot for is 60 mg/dL.

There are a number of reasons for maintaining a high HDL count including the fact that a higher count can decrease the risk of plaque build-up, essentially reducing the shrinkage that exists in arteries.

Artery blockage is one potential cause of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.

If the serum HDL cholesterol level falls below 40 mg/dL, then measures should be taken to increase that number in order to prevent possible heart complications.

One measure that can be taken to improve the serum HDL cholesterol level is to change your diet to one that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods that contain unsaturated fats and omega-3.

Choosing healthy foods and avoiding unhealthy foods that are high in saturated fats and other harmful substances is one way of improving overall HDL numbers.

Combine a healthy diet with a quality natural cholesterol supplement with proven ingredients such as policosanol, lecithin oil and phytosterols, and you are onto a winner.

Exercise is also an effective tactic to use to improve the HDL levels that one has.

Regular exercise for at least 20 to 30 minutes is essential to achieve the best results when it comes to improving the serum HDL cholesterol level.

Bad habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to increased bad cholesterol and decreased good cholesterol levels.

Smoking should be avoided at all costs.

It is generally recommended that men consume no more than two alcoholic drinks per day, and women no more than one drink per day.

Taking control of these types of habits will help lower LDL cholesterol levels and improve the serum HDL cholesterol level.

If you would like to improve your curing-cholesterol.com serum HDL cholesterol level, then visit my website today, for quality information to guide you to success.

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com