High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatlike substance that is produced mostly in your liver, although some of the cholesterol in your blood comes from the foods you eat.

The most important types of cholesterol in your blood are:

• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or HDL

L is for "lousy":

• LDL cholesterol carries fats to your body organs to be stored away for future use.
• It causes a buildup of cholesterol (plaque) on the walls of the arteries in your heart.
• High levels of LDL can damage artery walls.
• Eating heart healthy and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your LDL.

H is for "healthy":

• HDL cholesterol is good because it carries excess fats away from your body organs for elimination.
• The more HDL you have in your blood, the better protected you are against the buildup of plaque in your arteries.
• Regular exercise and quitting smoking can help increase HDL.

Your cholesterol target will depend on your other risk factors, but a good target is an LDL below 3.5 mmol/L.

How to Improve Your Cholesterol Levels

• Be aware of your cholesterol levels
• Follow your heart healthy nutrition plan
• Achieve a healthy body weight
• If you smoke, stop
• Be active every day and follow your physical activity plan
• Attend a nutrition workshop

Even If Your Cholesterol Is Normal, You Still Need to Eat Heart Healthy

Heart healthy eating protects your heart and arteries in other ways and slows the progression of heart disease.