Can You Boost HDL Levels With A Better Diet?

What are ideal HDL levels?

Health authorities recommend that men (generally) keep their HDL cholesterol around 40 mg/DL, while women are advised to keep their HDLs above 50 mg/DL.

These recommendations depend on many factors, including:

• your gender
• your heart health history
• your age
• your genetic predispositions

What causes hypo-alpha-lipoproteinemia?

Various conditions can cause an individual's HDLs to plummet to unhealthy levels. These range from fish eye disease to genetic conditions to dietary factors.

Why are abnormally low levels considered dangerous?

Because they are associated with health dangers, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

How can a cholesterol profile be improved?

Medical science has advanced in many ways with respect to the treatment of heart disease and cholesterol. A class of drugs known as “statins” seems to be good at lowering levels of LDLs (low density lipoproteins) but not as good at raising levels of HDLs.

Your physician may be able to suggest a dietary regimen and/or prescription medications to help get your cholesterol profile to a reasonable healthy range.

How does diet influence good cholesterol levels?

Some medical authorities argue that diets rich in cholesterol and saturated fats cause LDL and triglyceride levels to rise and HDLs to plunge.

Others argue the opposite point: that it’s the refined carbohydrates and sugars in our diets --not the dietary fats--that play havoc with our cholesterol.

Thus, dietary carbs ultimately may be responsible for some--perhaps nearly all--cases of low HDL levels, particularly those that coexist with obesity and overweight.