Daily Dose: Cholesterol

A viewer asked what the average cholesterol levels are.

Dr. Lacey Anderson explains the types of cholesterol you need to know in today's Daily Dose.

You need to know the good cholesterol and bad cholesterol numbers.

LDL is the “bad cholesterol,” and I remember it as the “lousy cholesterol”. This comes from animal fats like meat and dairy products, and this is the cholesterol that can clog the arteries.

HDL is the good cholesterol, or “healthy cholesterol” that comes from fish, nuts, and omega-3 fats. The good cholesterol actually helps keep your arteries clear. Your HDL or good cholesterol is the number you want to be high, ideally over 60.

Your LDL or bad cholesterol should be below 100.

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in your blood that can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, and we want this level to be 150 or less.

Increasing exercise and increasing fiber in the diet can help improve cholesterol levels as well as lowering the amount of meat and dairy products in the diet.

Improving cholesterol levels can help decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke.

If you have a question for Dr. Lacy Anderson, call the hotline at 841-9999 or e-mail dailydose@news9.net.