What are the different types of cholesterol and lipids?
Total cholesterol refers to all of the cholesterol in the blood. Because cholesterol is fatty and blood is watery, the two don’t mix. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins, a ball-shaped shell that cholesterol can slip into. The are two main types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, is the good kind. It moves easily through the blood and does not stick to the artery walls. HDL helps prevent heart disease by carrying cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver where it can be removed from the body. Think “H” for healthy—with HDL cholesterol, a high level is good. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol is the bad kind. It tends to stick to the lining of the artery walls, leading to fatty plaque buildup. With LDL cholesterol, a high level is bad because it increases your risk for heart disease. In addition to cholesterol, triglycerides are another type of fat or lipid found in the blood that can increase your risk of
