-=| Facts About Good and Bad Cholesterol |=-
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Blood cholesterol is  carried by  fat-protein  complexes called lipo-
proteins.  This is necessary because all cholesterol is insoluable in
water  and therefore  cannot be transported in a  pure state via  the
bloodstream.

The two major  types of lipoproteins,  low-density and  high-density,
have very different effects on the health of the arteries.

The low-density lipoproteins, or LDL's, carry most of the cholesterol
and are considered "bad" because they are  primarily responsible  for
cholesterol deposited on the artery walls.  LDL is not a stable chem-
ical package, and it unravels quite easily.  Should an LDL escape the
bloodstream and  penetrate  the artery wall, the cholesterol could be
released and deposited.  When that happens, the clogging  process be-
gins.

The high-density lipoproteins,  or HDL's,  are considered  "good" for 
two primary  reasons.  First, they do not collect on  artery walls to
block blood flow.  This is because, unlike the LDL's, they are a much
more stable and do not come apart easily.  Secondly, HDL works to min-
imize the harmful effects of LDL by causing it to be removed from the
bloodstream and excreted.

For both men and women, HDL levels can be increased dramatically by a
regular program of aerobic exercise.
