Cholesterol IQ

Total Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all cells in your body. Your body needs small amounts for many reasons; from helping to make vitamin D to digesting fats. However, high levels can increase your risk of heart disease so it’s important to get the right balance.

HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein)

Typically referred to as "good cholesterol", high-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps to remove "bad cholesterol" from your bloodstream and send it back to the liver. Higher levels of HDL are considered a good thing.

LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)

Known as "bad cholesterol", low-density lipoprotein (LDL) usually makes up most of the cholesterol in your body. When your body has too much LDL cholesterol, it can build up in the walls of your blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

HDL % of Total Cholesterol

The HDL % of total cholesterol refers to the amount of "good cholesterol" in the body, compared to the total amount of cholesterol. The higher this percentage, the better.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are one of the most common fats found in the body. When you regularly consume more calories than you burn, your body converts these excess calories into triglycerides and they are stored in your body as fat.