Bad Cholesterol

Question: What is the difference between good and bad cholesterol? I know they are ldl and hdl, but how are they different? pictures or diagrams would be good :) Also y is 1 good and 1 bad? Y cant they just add more good cholesterol to our food?

Answer: High Density Lipids(HDL) is the good cholesterol. Think of it like a pin cushion. This one is full of pins and can't retain any more fat from you diet. Low Density Lipids(LDL) is the empty pin cushion or bad cholesterol. It has plenty of receptors for fat to attach to. Too much of this in the blood causes atherosclerosis or blockages in the arteries.

Question: How can a person with IBS lower the bad cholesterol? I know that eating whole grain will help lower the bad cholesterol, but for my sister who has Irritable Bowel Syndrome (whenever she eats whole grain, she gets diarrhea.), she has to stick with her white bread diet. At the same time her bad cholesterl is way too high. IAre there other ways to lower the bad cholesterol?

Answer: There are plenty of things. Celery, shitake mushrooms, fish oil, garlic. This list is endless in fact. http://www.cholesterol.medgrip.com

Question: Is it fine to have high bad cholesterol if you have high good cholesterol? Or should you try to lower the bad cholesterol?

Answer: high bad cholesterol = bad. doesn't matter if the good is high too. you need to lower the bad.

Question: Is the cholesterol in shrimp the good or bad cholesterol? I've noticed that shrimp is really low in calories and fat, but high in cholesterol. Is it the good or bad kind?

Answer: It is the bad kind (LDL). But truth be told, cholestrol is necessary for your body. It is the excess that we should worry about. Dietary sources need not necessarily increase LDL in your body. Moderations is the key. Avoiding shell fish of all kinds is not the answer but eating less of it to not to injest a lot to your system is prudent. Cholestrol is processed in your bile. It is also the carrier of all kinds of nutrients and other important harmones and various essential chemicals produced by the body.

Question: How do I get rid of the bad cholesterol that is starting and a grown blister on my eyelids? If bad cholesterol will be eliminated then my eyelid blister will follow or I need to have in and out medication.I used not to take medicine if necessary give me prescription using natural medicine such a fruits, vegetable (cuchini or tomato place on top of the eyelids), etc.

Answer: I have not found any resources that indicate placing zucchini or tomatoes on the eyes will help draw out cholesterol deposits (xanthomas). The cause of Xanthomas is not known, it is not considered to be harmful, and does correlate with elevated cholesterol levels. In the case of eruptive xanthomas it is suggested to be seen by a physician promptly. http://www.skinsite.com/info_xanthomas.htm This is a list of botanicals that may help with elevated cholesterol levels: Artichoke, bitter melon, boldo, velvet bean, chanca piedra, guava, carqueja, yerba mate, suma, sarsaparilla, vassourinha, maca, cat's claw, annatto, acerola, andiroba http://www.rain-tree.com/index.html Most alternative/complementary medicinal sites contain disclaimers. Research the indications and contraindications before using.

Question: Is peanut butter good or bad for cholesterol? I love peanut butter but don't eat it because it looks like it's high in total fat and saturated fat. Lately I've seen contradictory things on the internet...some saying peanut butter is mostly unsaturated fat and actually lowers bad cholesterol...others saying that peanut butter is high in fat and therefore bad for cholesterol. Can anyone give me a definite answer or point me to a definitive source? Thank you in advance!

Answer: Unless your like a peanut butter junkie, it wont really do much, yes it has saturated fat in it but it's also healthy so a peanut butter sandwich every now and then can be healthy

Question: What is a good score for your bad cholesterol? If you could break it down, like... Your complete cholesterol total should be no higher than "x" Your good cholesterol should be no higher than "x" Your bad cholesterol should be no higher than "x" Thanks.

Answer: I found this online for bad cholesterol, which is what you should be concerned with the most. I hope it helps. If I find information for good cholesterol, I'll post it for you. Level mg/dL Interpretation: <100 Optimal LDL cholesterol, corresponding to reduced, but not zero, risk for heart disease 100 to 129 Near optimal LDL level 130 to 159 Borderline high LDL level 160 to 189 High LDL level >190 Very high LDL level, corresponding to highest increased risk of heart disease. Here's the information for good cholesterol: Level mg/dL: Interpretation <40 Low HDL cholesterol, heightened risk for heart disease, <50 is the value for women 40-59 Medium HDL level >60 High HDL level, optimal condition considered protective against heart disease

Question: Is the type of cholesterol in shrimp and other shellfish bad cholesterol? I was making shrimp the other day and noticed the tremendous amount of cholesterol in shrimp, I was wondering if it is hdl or ldl? Good or bad?

Answer: Good cholesterol mainly. Click on the link below. "While the shrimp diet did increase people's so-called bad cholesterol or LDL slightly, it also boosted their so-called good cholesterol or HDL enough to offset the increase in bad cholesterol. "

Question: Is it true that LDL(Bad)cholesterol has some components that are actually good for people? I saw this in a newspaper article. It also said that HDL (Good) cholesterol has components that are bad for us. Will doctors be revising the tests to accommodate for this?

Answer: If you are wondering about high cholesterol symptoms or the signs of high cholesterol, the answer may surprise you. There are usually no signs of high cholesterol and no symptoms of high cholesterol. Therefore, it important to check your cholesterol on a regular basis. Don't wait for high cholesterol symptoms to happen, because you might not have any and may be diagnosed with heart disease after you discover your cholesterol levels are high. http://cholesterol.about.com/popular.htm

Question: what is the rate of heart attack if my bad cholesterol is 169 mg? my triglycerin is normal and my good cholesterol is normal. is the 169 of bad cholesterol a big risk with heart attack or what is the rate of getting a heart attack on that? is that 169mg a high risk of heart attack? im 33 female. parents has high blood pressure, take cholesterol drugs too. no other medical issues for me.

Answer: Your risk of having a heart attack in the near future is very low, even with an LDL "bad" cholesterol of 169. Ideally, your LDL "bad" cholesterol should be less than 160 mg/dL based on your age and risk factors. This assumes you are not a smoker. A LDL in this range will increase your risk of future heart attacks slightly, but the rate of heart attack in the next 10 years is very low. There are calculators online in which you can estimate your risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years, but you will need to know your Total Cholesterol, HDL and blood pressure. I will leave the link at the end and you can check it out if you like. Your cholesterol can likely be treated with lifestyle changes alone. You should limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. Increase your intake of good fats like omega-3-fatty acids found in fish. Regular exercise will also help. If you are overweight, then you should try to lose weight. http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=prof

Question: The difference between good and bad cholesterol? I went to the doctor and they told me my bad cholesterol was fine but my good cholesterol was very low. What's the difference and how do I fix the good cholesterol level?

Answer: LDL (low density lipoproteins) are bad. HDL (high density lipoproteins) are good LDL's basically clog up your arteries while HDL's will 'attract' to LDL and will carry them out of your blood stream to your liver. This is also where HDL's are made but you can also get them from certain sources of food such as bananas and oatmeal. Also chicken is very rich in HDL's; so I would recommend having a diet high in fruit, cereales and white meat. Good luck...

Question: Someone explain to me all the ways you can get bad cholesterol? What are all the ways you can get bad cholesterol in your body? I know food is one...but try to be a little specific with that one...like saying the certain food groups if nothing else. I'm sure there are too many to write...but a few examples would be very appreciated. Also is it true you can inherit like a bad cholesterol making gene? Can it come from family? And any other ways you can get it would be appreciated. I know almost nothing about it so don't be too generic. Thanx in advance to anyone that answers.

Answer: You can get high cholesterol from food and genetics. The foods high in cholesterol are foods that contain animal fats...such as dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, and eggs), and meats. The leaner the cut of meat, the less cholesterol it contains. Chicken skin is also a source. Your cholesterol could also be affected by your family's history. There are plenty of people that eat right and exercise, and are shocked to find their cholesterol numbers are sky high. That happened to a cousin of mine who was lean and ate well, and had a cholesterol reading of over 300. In those cases, cholesterol reducing drugs may be necessary.

Question: Does eating chocolates like Milka add to your bad cholesterol? I went for a routine check up. And everything came back fine except for cholesterol levels. Overall 220. HDL - 34.5, LDL 166. I exercise regularly and eat right. Since I have a stressful job that requires lots of mental activity - I do eat 2 chocolates per day. But I am not overweight. I look normal. I am 36 year old male. Do you think chocolates did this to me? Any suggestions about lowering this cholesterol? Am I at risk of sthg bad?

Answer: You're at borderline risk zone, that means borderline risk for any future heart disease. And you must work in lowering your total cholesterol , your LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL (it must be 50 and above). Anyway, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) has been shown very effective in increasing HDL (do not exceed 40 mg per day). I think in your case, the stress you're having influences your cholesterol balance. Try to find a way to cope. By the way, chamomile tea is very good to relax, you may have some, especially at bedtime. If after some time, your lipid profile is not at normal levels, consult your physician to see if you need any medication.

Question: What food item will lower your bad cholesterol the most? If you had to pick one food item that will lower your bad cholesterol the most, it would be?

Answer: My boyfriend had high cholesterol and I got his bad cholesterol down and his good cholesterol up. It's not just what you eat but also what you don't eat. There is no 'one' food that will lower it, you have to maintain a healthy and varied diet along with regular exercise. It is a slow process. Make sure you eat steamed fish and spinach. Do running, martial arts, aerobics, etc at least once a week to start with, building up to twice and then three times a week. Drink plenty of water. Pomegranate juice is VERY good in reducing cholesterol. Good Luck

Question: What is the Best Way To Lower Bad Cholesterol? I Have High Levels of Bad Cholesterol? I'm only 19. Any Suggestions? Thanks.

Answer: you should see a doctor. and diet and exercise.

Question: Does cyan pepper help you relieve you of bad cholesterol? I have heard that cyan pepper can help you get rid of bad cholesterol. Is this true. I would like a web site about it if you can.

Answer: I don't have any websites, but try going to or phoning a natural health food store. They usually love to talk about this stuff.