10 Ways to Help Boost Your "Good" Cholesterol At the risk of
sounding like a certain 20-something socialite, HDL is hot!
Advances in research have brought more attention to the blood
lipid (or fat) we often call "good" cholesterol. "Good"
cholesterol doesn't refer to the cholesterol we eat in food, but
to the high density lipoprotein cholesterol circulating in our
blood. It's one of the blood fats measured in the lipid panel
blood test doctors perform. And it's the component you want more
of, because increasing HDL helps lower your risk of Experts of
the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) notes that
although LDL or "bad" cholesterol has gotten most of the
attention, there's growing evidence that HDL plays an important
role. Facts About "Good" Cholesterol - HDL cholesterol normally
makes up 20%-30% of your total blood cholesterol. - There's is
evidence that HDL helps protect against the accumulation of
plaques (fatty deposits) in the arteries. - Research suggests
that a five-point drop in HDL choles