Why are hdls good for you

Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time. This process is called atherosclerosis.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. From tiger nuts to watermelon seeds, these superfoods are set to take over For expert advice on how to eat healthier and get the nutrients you need, check out these top healthy eating books. High triglycerides can have many causes, including genetics. When it's an inherited condition, it's known as familial hypertriglyceridemia.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. HDL vs. Know your numbers. Causes of high cholesterol. How to treat high cholesterol. The impact of diet. Prevention tips. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:. With HDL cholesterol, higher numbers are better, because a high HDL level can lower your risk for coronary artery disease and stroke.

How high your HDL should be depends on your age and sex:. If your HDL level is too low, lifestyle changes may help. These changes may also help prevent other diseases, and make you feel better overall:. Some cholesterol medicines , including certain statins , can raise your HDL level, in addition to lowering your LDL level. Health care providers don't usually prescribe medicines only to raise HDL. If you are taking one of these and you have a very low HDL level, ask your provider if you should continue to take them.

Diabetes can also lower your HDL level, so that gives you another reason to manage your diabetes. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. This response may partially be because people with low carb diets typically eat higher levels of fat. It is important to note that the Danish Dairy Research Foundation funded this study, which could have influenced study results.

Bottom line: Low carb and ketogenic diets typically increase HDL cholesterol levels in people with diabetes and obesity. Studies have shown that many types of exercise — including strength training, high intensity exercise, and aerobic exercise — are effective at raising HDL cholesterol 15 , 16 , Review studies also say that exercise can boost the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HDL cholesterol One small study followed females with polycystic ovary syndrome , which can raise the risk of insulin resistance.

The study required them to perform high intensity exercise three times per week. The exercise led to an increase in HDL cholesterol after 10 weeks.

The participants also showed improvements in other health markers, including decreased insulin resistance and improved arterial function Overall, high intensity exercise such as high intensity interval training and high intensity circuit training may boost HDL cholesterol levels the most.

Bottom line: Exercising several times per week can help raise HDL cholesterol and enhance its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. High intensity forms of exercise may be especially effective.

Studies have shown that coconut oil may reduce appetite, increase metabolic rate, and help protect brain health, among other benefits. However, it appears that coconut oil is actually quite heart-healthy.

Some studies have shown that coconut oil tends to raise HDL cholesterol more than many other types of fat.

Improving this ratio reduces heart disease risk 20 , 21 , One study examined the health effects of coconut oil consumption in 40 females with excess abdominal fat. However, more recent reviews suggest that the research into coconut oil and cholesterol is of poor quality, is not conclusive, and often reports that coconut oil can raise the levels of LDL cholesterol.

Therefore, more research is needed 23 , Most studies have found that these health benefits occur at a dosage of about 2 tbsp 30 ml of coconut oil per day. It is best to incorporate this into cooking rather than eating spoonfuls of coconut oil on their own.

Bottom line: Consuming 2 tbsp 30 ml of coconut oil per day may help increase HDL cholesterol levels. Coconut oil is available to purchase online. That said, the current research is inconclusive. Smoking increases the risk of many health problems, including heart disease and lung cancer.

One of its negative effects is a suppression of HDL cholesterol. Some studies have found that quitting smoking can increase HDL levels 25 , 26 , In a 1-year study of more than 1, people, those who quit smoking had twice the increase in HDL as those who resumed smoking within the year. The number of large HDL particles also increased, which further reduced heart disease risk