7 Ways To Fix Your Cholesterol

Why lowering this often misunderstood substance is only half the story.

- Lisa Turner

You’ve read plenty of articles on how to lower cholesterol. But that’s not the whole story. Instead of focusing only on how high or low your numbers are, think about optimizing cholesterol.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are usually classified as “bad” (LDL) or “good” (HDL) cholesterol. But recent studies have pointed out the importance of LDL particle size. Research shows that people who have a higher quantity of small, dense LDL particles and a lower quantity of large, fluffy LDL particles have a three times greater risk of heart disease. Small, dense LDL particles are more likely to enter blood vessel walls, become oxidized, and trigger the process of atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart attack. Large, fluffy LDL particles, on the other hand, may be protective against heart disease.

Other studies show an inverse relationship between triglyceride levels and LDL particle size—higher triglycerides correlate with small, dense LDL particles, and lower triglycerides correlate with large, fluffy LDL particles. An LDL particle number (called LDL-P) may be more important than the total amount of cholesterol within these particles. Think of cars on the highway: the number of cars on the road (LDL particle concentration) is more likely to cause a traffic jam than the number of passengers in the car (total LDL cholesterol).

The bottom line? HDL and LDL levels, LDL particle size and concentration, and triglyceride levels are all important factors in your total cholesterol profile. So instead of just lowering your cholesterol, focus on fixing it. Here’s how: 

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