What Are Ideal Cholesterol Levels?

Cholesterol is used by your body to make hormones such as testosterone and to perform other necessary life functions. However, you can get too much cholesterol in your body by eating certain types of foods as well as genetic factors that cause your body to make too much of it. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, ideal cholesterol levels depend on your personal risk of heart disease and whether you are male or female.

Total Cholesterol

• For most people, a total fasting blood cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) to be in the ideal range.

Good Cholesterol

• Your level of good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein, or HDL) should be 60 mg/dL or higher to be ideal; 50 to 59 is considered good and less than 50 in women or less than 40 in men is considered poor.

Bad Cholesterol

• Ideal levels of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotien, or LDL) depend on whether you are at risk for heart disease; if you are, your ideal level is less than 70 mg/dL, and if you are at average or low risk for heart disease your ideal LDL is less than 100 mg/dL.

Triglycerides

• For most people, triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL, but if you have risk factors for heart disease your doctor may recommend an even lower ideal number.

Considerations

• If you have already had a heart attack or other type of heart disease, you are considered to be at very high risk and your cholesterol should be closely monitored.

Benefits

• Maintaining an ideal total cholesterol level as well as optimal good and bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels can reduce your risk of arteriosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.