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How Low Should Cholesterol Go?
Keeping your cholesterol in check is critical to staying healthy and avoiding heart disease. Two recent studies followed almost two thousand patients with heart disease whose LDL levels -- the bad cholesterol -- was 100 or less.
Watch Your Cholesterol!
According to the American Heart Association, ninety-eight million adults over the age of 20 in the United States have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) --the “bad,” cholesterol, while thirty-one million have total cholesterol levels over 240. Some cholesterol is necessary. The body uses cholesterol to produce estrogen, testosterone, vitamin D, and other vital compounds. However, too much cholesterol, in particularly LDL cholesterol creates dangerous health risks. As a rule, lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol levels lower the risks of heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Good Cholesterol?
Yes, and it really is good for you! High levels of good cholesterol can help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. A recent study found high levels of HDL -- the good cholesterol -- appears to help preserve mental function in older people
