{"id":2477,"date":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/uncategorised\/you-need-know-good-cholesterol-vs-bad-cholesterol\/"},"modified":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"you-need-know-good-cholesterol-vs-bad-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/lifestyle\/you-need-know-good-cholesterol-vs-bad-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"You Need To Know This: Good Cholesterol vs Bad Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cholesterol. Is it a dirty word?

\n\tYour body needs cholesterol to build cells. It\u2019s actually essential for many of the metabolic processes in our body. <\/span>

\n\tCholesterol is a type of fat and it is made up of \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cbad\u201d fats.

\n\tHDL is the good fat. HDL picks up excess cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to your liver where it’s broken down and removed from your body. LDL is the bad fat.

\n\tOur body gets LDL from the meat, poultry and full-fat dairy we consume. These foods contain saturated and trans fats, both of which cause our liver to produce more cholesterol than it normally would. This increase in cholesterol can bring the total amount to an unhealthy level. 

\n\tWhen levels of cholesterol are too high, your heart is at risk. Cholesterol is deposited in the walls of your arteries making it harder for blood to flow through. This can put you at an increased risk of heart disease or stroke.

\n\tIf you\u2019re concerned about your cholesterol levels, it\u2019s important to speak to your doctor or a medical professional. Remember, high cholesterol may not show symptoms. You\u2019ll need to take a \u2018total cholesterol test\u2019 to gain an insight into your levels of \u2018total cholesterol\u2019.

\n\tThe test is usually performed as a fasting test and a small drop of blood will be taken from your fingertip. <\/p>\n

Here are some tips to help reduce levels of cholesterol.<\/p>\n