Q: I just returned from my doctor’s annual checkup. I was advised that my bad cholesterol (LDL) level is too high, that my good cholesterol (HDL) is too low and that I could be at risk of developing heart and cardiovascular diseases. I’m confused, scared and upset because I don’t understand how this can be happening to me. I exercise and follow a low-fat diet every day. Please help. Can you explain to me what the LDL, HDL and total cholesterol (TC) levels mean?

A: Unfortunately, for some people, exercising and following a low-fat diet is not enough to maintain a low risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The reason being is that genetics (family history of CVD) is also an important factor that needs to be taken into consideration.

In order for you to understand your particular condition, and to empower yourself with knowledge, we suggest that you read the content of this website thoroughly. Here are some hints to get you started:

For basic concepts to understand how bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL) affect your risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), click here.

To read general suggestions and to find out what the different levels of LDL, HDL and total cholesterol TC mean, click here.

It is very important to keep in mind that only your doctor can determine, based on your particular condition (blood lipid profile) and family history (genetics), what treatment is best for you.

Q: What is triglyceride and how does it relate to cholesterol?

A: Triglyceride is an important part of lipid metabolism. To learn more about triglyceride and other basic concepts about lipids, click here.

Q: Can you suggest a low-cholesterol diet?

A: To learn what nutrients help in the promotion of cardiovascular health, click here. To read the article Functional Foods that could give you new knowledge on how to improve your diet, click here.

Q: I am seeking some information and advice. I have a high cholesterol level and would like to choose the most effective way to lower it so I can avoid a possible heart attack or arterial disease. What are your suggestions?

A: See the answer to the next question since both are related.

Q: I just received my blood chemistry results from the lab and they are a little high. My total cholesterol TC level is 224, my bad cholesterol LDL level is 118, my good cholesterol HDL level is 35 and my triglyceride level is 275. Could you please advice what measures I should take to avoid a heart attack or cardiovascular disease?

A: Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with any specific medical advice. Only an internal medicine doctor you trust can provide you with the right advice since only he or she will be familiar with your particular situation and family history. The most important advice we can give you is to take time to read thoroughly the information contained within this website. Reading the content of our website and knowing the results of your blood lipid profile will help you understand and manage your risk.

Q: Can you recommend a dietary supplement for those people with borderline-high cholesterol and who have not been diagnosed yet with hypercholesterolemia?

A: If your total cholesterol (TC) is under 200 mg/dL and your LDL is under 100 mg/dL we recommend that you click here to read about which dietary supplements—claiming to help in the promotion of healthy levels of cholesterol—are proven effective by scientific research or clinical studies. We cannot recommend any particular brand of dietary supplement but we do suggest you research thoroughly red yeast rice, it has shown to be very effective for some individuals and it is backed by several scientific and clinical studies. We also recommend that, if you decide to take a dietary supplement, you choose a reputable brand to: (A) guarantee that the recommended daily/dietary allowance (RDA) of ingredients is present in the product and (B) guarantee that the product does not contain any toxins that could affect your health. Some companies manufacturing dietary supplements do not follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) including quality controls. For more information, click here to read a U.S. government report on the safety of dietary supplements (a PDF document will open in a new window).

Q: In a nutshell, can you tell me the most effective way to lower my cholesterol levels?

A: There is no simple solution to reduce high levels of cholesterol. If your total blood cholesterol is under 200 mg/dL, your LDL is under 100 mg/dL, your HDL is over 60 mg/dL and your triglyceride is under 150 mg/dL, you could consider the combination of a diet, basic nutrients (vitamins and minerals), exercise and taking a dietary supplement. Otherwise, if you don’t meet the criteria above—your cholesterol is borderline high or high—you must be in a cholesterol‑lowering regimen or treatment supervised by a medical doctor. For our general suggestions, click here.

Q: How can we contact somebody within your organization?

A: To contact us click here. Your comments and suggestions on how to improve our website will always be welcomed and appreciated. Those emails for which a response is justified normally receive a reply within 24-hours.

Q: How can I help other people who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol?

A: Think for a moment about the good content you have read on this Web site and think that maybe you can save a life by just recommending your friends and family to visit it. 
Give the gift of health!

If you have found the information on this Web site to be valuable and useful, please share this information with family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Specially let them know how they can find us on the Internet. Let them know that the name of our Web site www.LDLHDL.info comes from the combination of the name of the two most important lipoproteins related to cardiovascular health—LDL HDL—and the suffix .info noting that no other suffix (e.g. “.com”) is required. 

You can also consider helping us maintain and improve our Web site by making a donation. If you decide to make a donation, just follow any of the links shown on the left of any of our Web pages. Making a donation is easy, fast and most importantly, secure. Any amount donated will go a long way in helping our mission.  Many thanks in advance for any donation you can give us. We wish you all good health.

To return to the LDLHDL.INFO Home Page, click here.

To learn important information about "statins" prescription drugs and their potentially serious side effects, click here.

To find out which Dietary Supplements are clinically proven to promote healthy levels of cholesterol, click here.

For an explanation of Basic Concepts on how blood lipids can increase your chances of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), click here.

To learn which Nutrients help in the promotion of cardiovascular health, click here.

To read the “Functional Foods” article with insights on advances in nutrition, click here.

For Suggestions that might help you reduce your chances of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), click here.

To Contact Us, click here.