What Is HDL Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring sterol that is produced in the liver. It is used in the cell membranes and help in the secretion of hormones throughout the body. It also helps to convert sunlight to vitamin D in the body. Thus it is a vital part of a normally functioning body. However if a persons diet consists of too much fatty foods, high in saturated or trans fats, or animal products like milk, eggs and bacon then the cholesterol level could get higher than the body needs. When this occurs and isn't treated, cardiovascular health complications can affect the body. Not all cholesterols are bad for the body though. HDL cholesterol is often termed as good cholesterol. This article will explain what HDL cholesterol is and why it is good for the body.

Cholesterol is absorbed into the bloodstream from the intestine. Because it is insoluble in blood it needs to be transported throughout the bloodstream so that it can do it's essential functions. It uses a group called lipoproteins to provide this transportation. Lipoproteins are divided into about 5 classes but the two most important in terms of cholestrol levels is the Low density lipoproteins (LDL) and the high density lipoproteins (HDL).

Low density lipoproteins transport the cholesterol throughout the body. However when there is an excess amount of cholesterol it tends to get deposited on the walls of the arteries by the low density lipoprotein (LDL). As you can imagine this is not good for the arteries or the body in general. Thickening arteries make it harder for the blood to move round the body and makes the heart work harder. If the artery gets completely blocked by cholesterol or a piece of the cholesterol breaks from the artery wall and causes a blockage then the person can suffer from a stroke.

High density lipoproteins (HDL) work in the opposite fashion to LDLs. They circulate throughout the bloodstream but tend to attach to the cholesterol in the arteries. The function of HDL is to return to the liver where any cholesterol that is attached to the HDL will be excreted from the body.

This is why LDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as bad cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is referred to as good cholesterol. The truth is that it is the same cholesterol but that the way it is transported around the body is different. And the transport mechanisms, the LDL and HDL are equally important to the body.

Thus if the ratio of LDL to HDL is higher than normal the chances of developing cardiovascular disease like atherosclerosis and heart disease are minimized. Food that are reputed to increase the level of HDL are mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are things like olive oil, avocados, canola oil, soya oil and safflower oil.

Thus high density lipoproteins (HDL) are the method of transporting cholesterol. They happen to transport the cholesterol out of the body. This is why the are often referred to as HDL Cholesterol.

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