What is good cholesterol?

What is good cholesterol (HDL)?

Before defining HDL, it is necessary to have an idea of what it is cholesterol.

substancia cerosa. Fat-like substance produced in the body, More precisely, in the liver. But it is also present in some foods of animal origin that enter the body through the diet, such as meat and dairy products.

THE high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can cause various cardiovascular diseases, the most common being Coronary artery disease.

The Good cholesterol, also known as Good cholesterol (o HDL, for its English acronym, which corresponds to High-density lipoproteinis the substance responsible for capturing bad cholesterol circulating freely in the blood. In this way, it transports it to liver cells, where it will be metabolised and excreted from the body.

Difference with bad cholesterol

The difference between both cholesterols is found, basically, in the molecular density of lipoproteins and the effect that each of these has on the human body.

The Low-density lipoproteins of bad cholesterol or LDL they facilitate its adhesion to the internal walls of the blood vessels, gradually reducing its diameter. A person with unhealthy habits, including the consumption of foods rich in LDL, can cause their blood vessels to become completely blocked and suffer from various heart and cardiovascular diseases.

Whereas the High-density lipoproteins HDL They have the function of capturing bad cholesterol particles. that circulate freely in the blood, encapsulating them and leading them to the liver cells, where they will be biotransformed for subsequent excretion.

To avoid high levels of LDL in our blood, it is advisable to:

• No smoking.
• Exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• A healthy diet that includes foods containing HDL.

Foods where HDL can be found

There are many foods that contain good cholesterol, but the best known are:

• Oily fish, such as sardines, salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, etc.
• Grape and berries, such as blueberries and blackberries.
• Olives and avocados.
• Extra virgin olive oil.
• Raw nuts.

In general, a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of plant-based foods will always be suitable for combating bad cholesterol.

However, it should be noted that a diet with high HDL levels does not always guarantee low LDL levels in the blood. In this regard, if you have bad cholesterol, it is always recommended to visit a specialist so that they can prescribe a personalised treatment.

With over ten years of experience, in ECOPROLIVE We specialise in developing natural products that originate from the olive and that they preserve the polyphenols and other active compounds of this fruit. This way, we help consumers eliminate toxins and reduce oxidative stress in the body, with the aim of promoting a healthy food culture that aids in the prevention of cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases, as well as other conditions involving vascular risk and inflammatory processes.