LDL CHOLESTEROL, BAD CHOLESTEROL
LDL Cholesterol/ Low Density Lipoprotein/ Bad Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
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WHAT IS LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN OR LDL CHOLESTEROL
Low Density Lipoprotein
Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol for short, is often referred to as “bad cholesterol”.
It is a class of lipoproteins, varying in size and contents, which carries cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood towards the arteries. Your body produces its own cholesterol and sometimes cholesterol is produced in excess of its usage. The lipoproteins carry the excess cholesterol and triglycerides from the cells and tissues to other parts of your body, to be used by other cells and body tissues. In small amount, LDL cholesterol provides an essential body function.
LDL cholesterol is the major cholesterol carrier in your blood. There are more LDL cholesterol than other types of cholesterol in your blood. Thus, most of your body's cholesterol is carried around your bloodstream as LDL cholesterol. Unlike HDL cholesterol, which is made up mostly of proteins and small amout of fat, LDL cholesterol has the opposite constitution. LDL cholesterol contains mainly fats and a small amount of protein.
WHY IS LDL CHOLESTEROL CALLED "BAD" CHOLESTEROL
Increased levels of LDL cholesterol are linked with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.
Since LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol to the arteries, high levels of LDL cholesterol leads to cholesterol build up in the arteries over time. This build of cholesterol deposits will eventually crystalize into solids, sticking to your artery walls, making them hard and narrow (atherosclerosis).
These deposits, known as “plaques”, restricts the flow of blood through the blood vessels. The plaques may also rupture or tear, forming blood clots that blocks the flow of blood or burst out of the arteries towards the bloodstream. This is when you get a a heart attack. If the blood flow to your brain is blocked by the plaques, a stroke is the result.
Due to these harmful effects of LDL cholesterol, it is considered a “bad” cholesterol.
There is increasing evidence that different subclasses of LDL cholesterol have different impacts on atherosclerosis. Rather than the the levels of cholesterol contained within the LDL particles, the concentration and size of the LDL particles are more important factors in determining the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol.
HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY LDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
The table below shows the total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels for different states of health.
This table only serves as a guide. Do note that if you are female, or suffering from cardiovascular diseases, you will have to lower the LDL cholesterol levels by more to achieve a healthy LDL cholesterol level. Women will also tend to see an increase in their LDL cholesterol levels in their post- menopausal years (after the age of 50). This is believed to be caused by the decreasing levels of estrogens in their bodies after menopause. Please consult your doctor for your personal healthy levels of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
The total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels below are expressed in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL.
| Healthy | Borderline | Unhealthy | |
| Total Cholesterol | Below 200 | 200 - 240 | Above 240 |
| HDL Cholesterol | Above 45 | 35 - 45 | Below 35 |
| LDL Cholesterol | Below 130 | 130 - 160 | Above 160 |
| Total Cholesterol /HDL Cholesterol | Below 4.5 | 4.5 - 5.5 | Above 5.5 |
| LDL/ HDL | Below 3 | 3 - 5 | Above 5 |
The easy way to remember this is that low LDL cholesterol levels are healthy while high LDL cholesterol levels are unhealthy.
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LDL cholesterol level of 160 mg/dL and above is considered unhealthy and a risk for cardiovascular diseases.
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LDL cholesterol level of 130 mg/dL and below is consider healthy and should be the LDL level you aim for.
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If you have other risk factors for heart disease (non- cholesterol related), LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL and below is considered healthy. 130 mg/ dL is not a safe LDL level for you.
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If you already have any cardiovascular diseases, you have to further lower your LDL cholesterol level. A LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL and below is considered safe for you.
You should also know that having low LDL cholesterol levels is NOT the only factor to lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Even if your total cholesterol levels is low, you are still at risk if your HDL cholesterol level is also low. The ideal situation will be to lower LDL and increase HDL cholesterol levels at the same time.
BiosLife™ Complete is clinically proven to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol at the same time, all without any side effect. Even if you are doing other things to lower your LDL cholesterol levels, BiosLife™ Complete can perfectly complement your LDL cholesterol lowering program.
Please also visit:
What Is Cholesterol for information on the different kinds of cholesterol, the links between cholesterol and the various risk factors, as well as other valuable cholesterol related information.
HDL Cholesterol for information on high- density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, why is it considered "good" cholesterol and the healthy HDL cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol Diet for comprehensive information on the best low cholesterol foods and diets that help you to lower your LDL cholesterol levels.
Low Cholesterol Foods for information on the foods and diets to lower your LDL cholesterol levels as well as increase your HDL cholesterol levels.
High Cholesterol Foods for information on the foods and diets to avoid if you want to lower your LDL cholesterol.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. The information and claims made in this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.