Safe & Unsafe Cholesterol Levels

Despite its poor reputation, cholesterol is a necessity for the construction of healthy cells. Finding the line between safe and unsafe levels of ̶0;good̶1; and ̶0;bad̶1; cholesterol is the trick.

Significance

• The liver produces all of the cholesterol that humans require. ̶0;Your body needs cholesterol so much that it makes around 3,000 milligrams per day,̶1; according to Dr. William Sears, a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine.

Identification

• Two primary forms of cholesterol exist; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is considered ̶0;bad̶1; and HDL the ̶0;good̶1; cholesterol due to HDL's role in removing and disposing of excessive LDL deposits.

Levels

• U.S. physicians measure cholesterol in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Canada and many European countries utilize the ratio of millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood.

LDL

• An LDL level below 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L) is generally considered safe and healthy for most people. ̶0;If you're at very high risk of heart disease, you may need to aim for an LDL level below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L),̶1; says The Mayo Clinic.

HDL

• In contrast, the higher the level of HDL, the better. ̶0;Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease,̶1; reports the American Heart Association. ̶0;An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher gives some protection against heart disease.̶1;