What Are Considered Safe Cholesterol Levels

Reaching and sustaining safe cholesterol levels is an important part of heart health. But what is cholesterol anyway? And what are safe cholesterol levels? These are just a couple of the question we will answer about safe cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is a wax like substance that is both produced by the body and consumed through diet. It is your liver that produces the cholesterol. For most people the liver produces just about the right amount of cholesterol for body and cell health. For about one half of one percent of the population the liver produces way too much. This condition is called familial hypercholesterolemia. But generally, our liver does a good job of producing the right amount to keep us healthy and avoid coronary blockage.

As you can see we really don't need to add any additional cholesterol through diet. Nevertheless we often do, but as in most cases the body has a plan B to make sure things don't get out of hand.

The bodies answer to excess cholesterol are high density lipoproteins which are known as good cholesterol. They round up excess cholesterol and dispose of it in the form of solid waste. As long as your HDL molecules are in a ratio of about 3 bad (LDL) to 1 good (HDL) chances are your cholesterol will be in a heart healthy range. Let's look at a few numbers.

For the average person safe cholesterol levels for HDL (good cholesterol) is between 50 and 60 mg/dl, with anything over 60 considered optimal; for LDL (bad cholesterol) a safe reading would be 130 mg/dl or less, with anything under 100 considered optimal; and total cholesterol between 200 and 239 mg/dl would be borderline high with anything less than 200 mg/dl considered to be optimal.

While the above numbers are an accurate reflection for the average person they do not accurately reflect healthy readings for those in the higher risk category. High risk would describe anyone with two or more major risk factors such as age (over 60), smoking, heredity, obesity, and inactivity. For these individuals the above numbers will need to be tweaked 10% to15%. For example a total cholesterol reading of 180mg/dl or less would be considered optimal for those with two or more high risk factors.

Safe cholesterol levels are easily achievable for most through a simple program including a low saturated fat diet, staying away from tobacco, staying active, and a lowered-cholesterol.com cholesterol reducing supplement if needed. After all you don't want to be one of the one million individuals who have a heart attack this year.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at purchaseremedies.com Purchase Remedies.com