Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Understanding the Normal Range

When it comes to maintaining a healthy heart, understanding your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is crucial. Reducing your LDL (bad) cholesterol by just one mmol/litre can lower your risk of heart attack by up to 30%. This highlights the significance of keeping these levels in check.

To achieve this, it's essential to make dietary changes, such as swapping white carbohydrates like white rice, white bread, pasta, and potatoes with low GI (glycemic index) options like wholegrain or multigrain bread, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. Triglycerides tend to respond well to these changes, particularly when it comes to reducing white carbohydrate intake.

However, some individuals may have a unique profile, characterized by high triglyceride levels (above 1.7 mmols/litre) combined with low HDL (good) cholesterol. This combination increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. While an isolated high triglyceride level is relatively uncommon, it can still pose some added risk if not accompanied by high LDL or low HDL.

The good news is that your protective HDL levels can help buffer LDL levels. If your HDL is above 1.5 mmols/litre (more common in women), you may be able to tolerate slightly higher LDL levels. On the other hand, a very low HDL level below 1.0 mmol/litre is a concerning scenario.

In general, the higher your HDL levels, the better. Your good cholesterol plays a crucial role in maintaining heart health. To reduce your LDL levels, focus on reducing your saturated fat intake, primarily found in red meats, full-fat dairy products, and hidden fats in restaurant and take-away foods.

Certain high-risk scenarios, such as diabetes, may warrant an LDL level under 2.5 mmols/litre, while individuals who have undergone heart bypass surgery or stenting may aim for a target LDL range of 1.7-1.0 mmol/litre. For most people, an LDL level around 3.0 mmol/litre is considered normal.

In conclusion, understanding your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is vital for maintaining a healthy heart. By making informed dietary choices and reducing your saturated fat intake, you can work towards achieving a healthier lipid profile.

Cholesterol triglycerides normal range