| Cholesterol is a component of lipid rafts, this helps to | | | | Good Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein) |
| secure proteins involved in cell signaling. When sleeping | | | | HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known |
| at night, our brain synthesizes cholesterol to benefit our | | | | as the “good” cholesterol. HDL removes |
| mood and increase our memory. Cholesterol supports | | | | cholesterol from your bloodstream and carries it back |
| the nervous system, in which cholesterol is a vital | | | | to the liver. I like to think of HDL as a vacuum cleaner, |
| component of the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath | | | | picking up cholesterol LDL leaves behind in your |
| allows neurons to conduct impulses with each other. | | | | arteries. HDL should be greater than 40 mg/dL, ideally |
| Cholesterol has been found to be the rate limiting | | | | greater than 60 mg/dL. |
| factor found in the formation of synapses, this | | | | The cholesterol test you normally take actually |
| formation is necessary for learning and the formation | | | | measures lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are sorted by |
| of memories. | | | | their density: the measure of fat versus protein in the |
| How many of you know that besides the cholesterol | | | | combination. High density means that there is more |
| that causes many medical conditions there is also a | | | | protein ratio compared to fat. High density lipoproteins |
| “good ” cholesterol. In your body there are two | | | | (HDL) are good cholesterol. They do the necessary |
| types of cholesterol: HDL, which is the good cholesterol | | | | work assigned to cholesterol, they help to un-clog your |
| and LDL, the bad cholesterol. For many years now, | | | | arteries and help flush excess fat from your body. |
| having a high level of HDL was thought to be very | | | | Bad Cholesterol |
| beneficial to your health. This high level of cholesterol | | | | The bad cholesterol is Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL. |
| was thought to give you some kind of protection | | | | This is the way cholesterol is carried into the |
| against heart conditions. However, lately there have | | | | bloodstream and it is one of the major causes of the |
| been some attention to lowering all cholesterol levels, | | | | dangerous fatty build up in the arteries. The higher the |
| not only the LDL cholesterol level, known as the bad | | | | levels of LDL are in your blood, the higher you are at |
| cholesterol. | | | | risk of developing heart disease. |