The Importance of Hdl

The importance of HDL
The high-density lipoproteins (HDL) do a valuable job in scavenging excess cholesterol from circulation and returning it to the liver for excretion. For this reason, HDL is often called the ‘good’ cholesterol. However, more recently, HDL has been found to have additional properties such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant behaviour. More focus is being placed on increasing HDL, especially in cases where LDL (bad cholesterol) lowering has not been sufficiently effective.
Cholesterol is an essential fat-li
.ke substance (sterol) important in the production of sex hormones and for maintenance of cell membranes. The body produces some naturally and then regulates its production based on how much cholesterol we consume. If we have too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, particularly the small, heavy low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), some gets oxidised, deposited in arteries and causes artery disease which may result in a heart attack eventually. However, if you have sufficient HDL to scavenge the excess, your heart disease risk will decline because LDL does not get a chance to build up in arteries.
Excess saturated fat from animal foods, coconut and palm oil in the diet, and the trans fatty acids, disrupt the way cholesterol receptors work so the body does not regulate cholesterol production and processing as well.
Women, before menopause at least, usually have higher HDL than men — women greater than 50+ mmol/L (1.3 mg/dL) and men greater than 40+ mmol/L (1.05 mg/dL). Below these numbers is entering higher risk territory for coronary artery disease for either sex.
By raising HDL and lowering LDL or at least not raising LDL at the same time, heart disease risk can be reduced. A ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol of 3.5 is said to be protective, as is a HDL level above 60 mmol/L (1.55 mg/dL). It depends on your other risk factors: family history, blood pressure, blood glucose, hypertension, obesity, inflammation and so on, but total cholesterol below 4.0 mmol/L (155 mg/dL) is considered to infer very low risk for cardiovascular disease if maintained in good health over an extended period.