There are two types of cholesterol: HDL, which is the good cholesterol and LDL, the bad cholesterol.  Most scientist feel that a high level of HDL is beneficial by reducing the progression of atherosclerosis and thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.  Over the past two decades, there has been a major emphasis in reducing the total and LDL cholesterol levels,  which has been shown to reduce the risk of death, heart attacks, and stroke.

There is additional evidence  that  the lower the  HDL is, at any given level of LDL cholesterol, contributes to an increased risk of heart disease.  The normal range of HDL cholesterol level is greater then 35 mg/dl for men and above 40 for women.  Why is the HDL cholesterol considered good or protective? Well, it seems in fact that it is not the actual cholesterol  which is beneficial, but the work that it does. This cholesterol, HDL cholesterol is actually a very complex molecule. This type of cholesterol is a combination of lipids, protein and cholesterol.  The HDL component of the cholesterol molecule helps to slow down or actually reverse the process of atherosclerosis within the blood vessels. The HDL cholesterol actually takes out the cholesterol excess that is found in your bloodstream.  This LDL cholesterol is then taken back to the liver for more processing. This is why just looking at the total cholesterol level does is usually not helpful in assessing one's risk of heart disease and stroke since a higher level of HDL cholesterol is protective against these clinical events.

One of the best ways to help raise the HDL cholesterol level includes any form of daily aerobic exercise, including jogging, riding a bike,  or even walking on a regular basis.  Once again, a sensible diet and regular exercise are lifestyle changes which may not only help lower the "bad" LDL cholesterol, but help raise the "good" HDL  cholesterol to help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.