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Safe & Unsafe Cholesterol Levels

Despite its poor reputation, cholesterol is a necessity for the construction of healthy cells. Finding the line between safe and unsafe levels of “good” and “bad” cholesterol is the trick.

  1. Significance

    • The liver produces all of the cholesterol that humans require. “Your body needs cholesterol so much that it makes around 3,000 milligrams per day,” according to Dr. William Sears, a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine.

    Identification

    • Two primary forms of cholesterol exist; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is considered “bad” and HDL the “good” cholesterol due to HDL's role in removing and disposing of excessive LDL deposits.

    Levels

    • U.S. physicians measure cholesterol in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Canada and many European countries utilize the ratio of millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood.

    LDL

    • An LDL level below 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L) is generally considered safe and healthy for most people. “If you're at very high risk of heart disease, you may need to aim for an LDL level below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L),” says The Mayo Clinic.

    HDL

    • In contrast, the higher the level of HDL, the better. “Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease,” reports the American Heart Association. “An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher gives some protection against heart disease.”

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