What are LDL and HDL cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because elevated levels of Bad cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Bad cholestrol deposits cholesterol on the artery walls, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thicknes of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, this process is called atherosclerosis.
HDL cholesterol is called the "good cholesterol" because good cholesterol particles prevent atheros clerosis by extracting cholesterol from the pure blood carry walls and disposing of them through the liver. Thus, high levels of Good cholesterol and low level of HDL cholesterol are risk factors for atherosclerosis, while low levels of LDL cholesterol and high level of GOOD cholesterol (low LDL/HDL ratios) are desirable
Read more...