There are actually five different ways to measure for a complete reading on your own cholesterol levels and they are: total, HDL, LDL, total/HDL ratio, LDL/HDL ratio. These measurements are actually categorized as desirable, borderline, and of course, at risk. Measurement units are milligrams per deciliter. It is extremely misleading to consider any of them on their own. Consult your health practitioner to best understand your cholesterol levels and what, if anything, to do about them or how to maintain them properly.
Here is how it really works in the numbers. Total desirable is below 200 mg/dL, total borderline level is 200 to 240 and total risk above level 240. HDL ideal level is above 45 mg/dL, HDL borderline is 35 to 45 and HDL at risk below 35. LDL ideal level is below 130 mg/dL, LDL borderline is 130 to 160 and LDL at risk above 160. Total/HDL ideal ratio is below 4.5, total/HDL borderline is 4.5 to 5.5 and total/HDL at risk is above 5.5. LDL/HDL ideal ratio is below 3, LDL/HDL borderline is 3 to 5 and LDL/HDL and at risk is above 5. Whew! That is a lot of numbers!
What all of that shows is that one very important set of numbers that you will want to bear in mind as you face your own cholesterol levels is that every milligram per deciliter makes a very large difference: with a 10 mg/dL drop in your overall cholesterol comes an approximate 40 percent decrease in risk of heart disease. Isn’t that a good enough reason for you to want to do something about it?
When it comes to actually doing something about your cholesterol levels, a balanced diet, combined with a good fitness regimen is your best bet in combating high cholesterol. You have to be both active and eat right to maintain the right balance. You can look to the my pyramid charts as a means of being sure that your eating habits are balanced. Supplements of vitamins will not be able to compensate for your poor eating. You have to eat whole foods for any of this to be effective, and you must lay off of heavy fatty foods and junk food to keep your cholesterol balanced.
