What Role Do Good And Bad Cholesterol Play?

Good and bad cholesterol have to do with lipoproteins, and these play a critical role in health.

Cholesterol is transported through the blood attached to proteins. The combination of cholesterol and protein is called a "Lipoprotein."

Bad Cholesterol (LDL)

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is called "bad cholesterol" because it gets deposted throughout the body and can build up in the arteries, causing potential blockages and obstruction.

Good Cholesterol (HDL)

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is called "good cholesterol" because it has to job of mopping up the LDL, balancing things out, as it were, by picking up the extra cholesterol and taking it back to the liver for processing.

Generally, doctors like to see high HDL scores and low LDL scores. However, if LDL is high but HDL is also high (higher than the LDL), the balance is maintained.