Health Jargon: What is LDL?

By Trina Remedios posted Sep 18th 2012 at 7:00AM IN | Avg Rating

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Health Jargon: What is LDL?

You've heard this before: High LDL is bad for you and can cause cardiovascular diseases. But what is LDL? How is it related to cholesterol? Why should we avoid it in our diet? We crack the whip on the bad boy of the arteries.

LDL is Low Density Lipoprotien, it transports cholesterol to tissues and arteries where the cholesterol can create blockages and hence is bad. In other words Low Density Lipoprotien is Bad Cholesterol.

If the amount of LDL is high and cholesterol gets deposited in your arteries, it is bad for you as it could make the arteries narrower. LDL is responsible for angina, heart attacks, heart failure, stroke or kidney diseases.

The level of cholesterol is determined by a blood test done after 12 hours of fasting. Who should get their cholesterol checked? People who have raised levels of cholesterol, people with hypertension, diabetes or have a family history of heart disease, and smokers should get tested and repeat it more frequently.

To avoid LDL, reduce your intake of saturated fats by reducing the butter, cheese, coconut oil, cream, egg yolks, poultry skin, red meat and whole milk in your diet. And don’t forget to exercise!

Read about HDL

*Images courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images

TAGS: Health Jargon, What is LDL, LDL, HDL, Low Density Lipoprotien

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