Just got results from a cholesterol screening I had done during my city's recent health fair....

Cholesterol came in at 134 (optimum 0-200)
HDL is 40.6 (optimum 40-60)
Triglycerides 45 (optimum 35-160)
LDL Calculated is 84.4

The only thing that concerns me is the HDL number. Nearly LOW. Causes of low HDL I've found are lack of exercise (I work out at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week), being overweight (I'm 5 ft. 8.5 inches tall and weigh 140), smoking (I never have) and a diet high in saturated fats and low in soluble fiber (mine is neither of the two).

So what gives? Anyone have experience with this?

My husband also got his numbers, which will likely improve as he started his journey to health only a month ago (and has lost about 20 pounds already). His HDL was only 24...but he's overweight, smokes and has just started exercising...

When my HDL was low, the doctor told me to increase my servings of fruits and vegetables. At the time I was barely eating any, so I now have like 3-5 servings a day, and my HDL is normal and my LDL is low-ish.

I should also say that at that point I was also exercising, never smoked (still don't) and am still overweight, but less so than I was.

That's what confuses me...I eat fruits and veggies! A banana or an apple as a morning snack, a lot of times some peaches in the afternoon and at least two veggies in/with dinner....

Hmmm...I dug out my results from 2008 (when my maintenance started, 1+ years into working out) and my HDL was 39. Maybe mine is just genetically lower...or I'm doing something wrong and dont know it...

If you're concerned, you should ask the quesetions of your doctor, and he or she can advise you. You're doing really well otherwise, so maybe in comparison to the other good numbers, you're okay.

Does your husband smoke around you and/or in the house? If so, you are getting second-hand smoke which could be bringing your HDL down.

Just a thought to try to help you figure this out.

My HDLs have sadly gone down as well as my total cholesterol has gone up in recent years, even though I am living a much healthier lifestyle ... genetics plays a significant role in cholesterol production. BUT, and my doctor confirms this, what is the best indicator of risk currently is the ratio of Total Cholesterol to HDL. According to the American Heart Association, "The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1."

Mine is 3.45:1.

Yours is 3.3:1, even better!!

In my research I found these ways of increasing HDLs that are beyond what we are doing already (exercise, healthy weight, eating well, etc.) I am making an effort to do all of them - I am including flax seed oil every day and fish oil capsules, and I didn't really consume trans fats to begin with.

• Increase monounsaturated fat intake (nuts, olives, avocado)
• Increase omega-3 fatty acids (fish or fish oil supplements and/or walnuts and flax seed)
• Eliminate trans-fats

We do GREAT 99% of the time with saturated fats these days, and trans fats are few and very far between. Fish is something we WANT to work into our diet more, but short of fish in the form of a stick or breaded patty...I've had ZERO luck cooking it. I can make tilapia taste bad in a second. Tuna is do-able, though...hard to mess up tuna...

There's just a ridiculous amount of misinformation about the role cholesterol plays in heart disease, and especially for women. Most of the studies that are out there were funded by the pharm companies, and they are statisically so screwed up that they're close to outright lying.

Suggested reading, from a NONPROFIT organization, is here: http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=2825&query=14%20dagger s&hiword=14%20DAGGER%20daggers%20[/URL]

Thanks for the link! I'll read it now!