Studying HDL - The GOOD Cholesterol

As I have said in earlier blogs, diet & exercise are a new focus! In my research for a "healthy heart" one area that is still is up in the air is the foods and HDL (good cholesterol). There is evidence of food choice and lowering LDL (the bad cholesterol). Here are some of the articles I found pertaining to diet and raising HDL.

Types of Alcohol Needed to Increase Good HDL Level

This article discusses the types of alcohol and increasing your HDL. Red Wine seems to be the good choice because of the flavonoids and antioxidants. But, as the article continues:

Therefore, for the purest infusion of HDL-promoting alcohol, distilled spirits are the way to go. However, all the benefits to your heart's health are mitigated if the liquor is combined with a sugary mixer, such as soda or sour mix.
So, a shot of whiskey might be a great way to lower HDL & also have a great night of sleep! Maybe I will take a shot of whiskey (just one) when I am watching my favorite John Wayne movies!!

A non-alcoholic drink would be cranberry juice. In the article found below a couple of glasses of cranberry juice every day may be as good (but not as much fun) as the shot of whiskey!

Cranberry Juice Increases HDL


The final article from the Mayo Clinic:

HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol

In the article Niacin was discussed as a way to increase HDL. The following foods were discussed in the article, Healthy Foods Containing Niacin:

There is a wide range of foods containing niacin. Niacin is more abundantly found in animal sources, although a few plant sources are rich in niacin as well. Niacin foods include all lean red meat, fish, organ meats (kidney, liver), prawns, pork, as well as milk and other dairy products. Other niacin rich foods include almonds and seeds, wheat products, beans, rice bran, green leafy vegetables, carrots, turnips and celery.

My last blood test was:
Total cholesterol - 126
LDL - 73
HDL - 35

So, raising the HDL is one of my goals for my June blood test. How about from 35 HDL to 40 HDL? We will give it a try. Along with the foods - exercise and losing weight are also key factors!