LDL HDL Ratio

Posts Tagged ‘High Cholesterol’

If both of your parents and your grandparents suffered from hear disease then you may think you are also doomed to suffer from heart disease. There is good news, heredity can be a cause of heart disease, it is but one factor among may factors that must be taken into account when assessing your risk for heart disease. One recent study found that heredity accounts for less than 10 percent of a person’s risk for developing heart disease.
That leaves the other 90 percent of the heart disease causing factors that you may be able to do something about. If you are at risk because of heredity factor then modifying your life style and taking certain precautions could substantially reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Doctors cannot agree on the number one cause of heart disease, so you will have to evaluate the evidence yourself and determine your own risk/reward ratio. Smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol are usually in the forefront of any study.
The chemicals in cigarettes can damage artery walls, thereby making it easier for cholesterol deposits to build blood-blocking deposits on the artery walls. Smoking also makes platelets, the component of blood that causes clotting and carries oxygen, to be more active, thus increasing the risks of blood clots that cause heart attacks and storks.
A body needs cholesterol and can actually produce all it needs, so when we ingest foods high in cholesterols, like dairy and meat products, our bodies get a lot more cholesterol than they need. The body saves cholesterol instead of excreting it, and that cholesterol gets stored along the walls of the arteries. Too many cholesterol deposits lead to artery blockage and clots.
Having a large numbers of large HDL particles correlates with better health and it is commonly called “good cholesterol”. Having a large number of LDL particles in the blood is commonly called “bad cholesterol”. However, as today’s testing methods determine LDL (”bad”) and HDL (”good”) cholesterol separately, this simplistic view has become somewhat outdated.
High blood pressure is also thought to be a major cause of heart disease. Give this a try. Plug you nose and breath through you mouth. No problem right? Now put something about the size of a garden hose in you mount and breath through that. It is harder to get enough oxygen but it is still not unreasonable. Not try breathing through a straw. You will not be able to do this for every long before you have to give up.
Your arteries are narrowed because of all that cholesterol stored on the walls of the arteries. But your body needs the same amount of oxygen that is supplied by the blood that is always has. Your heart has to pump harder and faster to give the body what it needs. As you arteries become narrower and narrower your heat has to work harder and harder. Sooner or later something has got to give.
Obesity is another factor that can cause heart disease. Often obesity comes with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Since there are more areas that need blood because of the increased size of someone suffering from obesity the heart must work harder to supply the needs of the body.
Stress is also associated with heart disease. But unless your parents are stressing you out enough to cause a heart attack, they are not the cause of heart disease.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Heart Disease such as Vitamin C, Lecithin, Pectin, Garlic, EPA, Niacin and Phytosterols.
Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood.
Lecithin has the potential to protect against fat clogged arteries when take daily.
Pectin limits the amount of cholesterol the body can absorb. High pectin count in apples may be why “One a day keeps the doctor away”.
Garlic counteracts the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.
Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid (EPA) lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides. Salmon Oil is one of the best-known sources of natural EPA.
Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it. Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.
Phytosterols is found in flax seed and peanuts, which are suggested to help lower serum cholesterol.
If you are at risk of developing heart disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

The increased attention on the health risk of high cholesterol has prompted many people to seek treatments for lowering cholesterol. The pharmaceutical industry offers many high-priced formulas for lowering cholesterol that may be appropriate in the most drastic cases. However for most individuals, nature provides several remedies that have proven effective in reducing and maintaining a safe cholesterol level.
If you have been diagnosed with this condition, the first item on the agenda that will assist in lowering cholesterol is a basic nutritional change, not simply a change of diet. Cholesterol is produced by the liver to maintain healthy cell membranes therefore if the problem is an imbalance in the production process, simply changing your diet may not be sufficient. Lowering Cholesterol with Herbs
One of the most famous herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, (Commiphora mukul) has been used for centuries in India to successfully control cholesterol and as a treatment for obesity. Guggul is a resin that works to rejuvenate the body and has the power to increase the white blood cell count.
Guggul lowers cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream, improving the ratio of “good” (HDL) to “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. Research shows that regular use of this herb can lower blood cholesterol by 14-27% and triglycerides by 22-30%. By working on the liver, Guggul increases the metabolism and assimilation of the harmful LDL cholesterol, producing results in as little as 4-12 weeks.
The effects of Guggul compares well with prescription formulations for lowering cholesterol, however the difference between Guggul and prescription formulas is that Guggul, being a natural plant extract works in harmony with the body making it a safer product.
Nutritional Supplements for Lowering Cholesterol
The nutritional supplements red yeast rice, co-enzyme Q10, vitamin C, chromium, royal jelly and L-carnitine have all been used successfully in treating obesity and increasing the levels of the good cholesterol HDL and lowering the LDL or bad cholesterol. OC-Max combines several ingredients in one convenient pill to combat high levels of cholesterol.
Adding soy products and garlic to your dietary regime can be effective complements to the nutritional supplements and assist in lowering cholesterol.

The Calcium Cholesterol ConnectionIf you think taking supplemental calcium is only good for bone health, think again. Calcium is a multifaceted nutrient. It happens to be the most abundant mineral in our bodies. Aside from its well-known role in promoting bone health, calcium is important for maximizing enzyme activity, facilitating nerve function, and helping to regulate heart rhythm and muscle contraction.

Low calcium intake has not only been associated with poor bone health, but may also contribute to poor blood pressure and even abnormal cell growth. The benefit of calcium now appears to extend to a completely new arena, which is cholesterol metabolism. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Medicine, 223 women were randomly assigned to take either 1 gram (1,000 mg) of calcium daily in the form of calcium citrate or an inactive placebo for one year1.

Investigators measured levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol at the onset of study, and then again periodically over the 12-month period. At the end of the trial, both HDL cholesterol and HDL-to-LDL ratios had increased more for women taking the calcium supplement compared to those taking placebo. On average, women taking calcium saw an increase in HDL cholesterol levels of about 7%. Authors indicated that this is another reason to encourage postmenopausal women to take calcium.

Further studies are suggested to see if similar benefits are obtained with men, and whether or not calcium supplementation may affect cardiovascular health. The Right Form of Calcium is CriticalWhen taking calcium it’s important to use the right form. Studies show that calcium carbonate has variable absorption, depending on stomach pH.

Calcium citrate malate is believed to be most efficiently absorbed in the stomach and intestines. There may actually be as much as a 1000% increase in absorption rates with calcium citrate malate compared to other forms of calcium.

Evidence supporting the incredible benefits of calcium citrate malate was published on September 4, 1997 in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine2. Several hundred elderly patients were studied. Half were given 500 mg elemental calcium citrate malate with 700 IU vitamin D, and the other half was given placebo. The results were excellent. Calcium/vitamin D supplements improved bone health and appeared to reduce fracture rates by more than 50%.

In addition, certain forms of calcium other than calcium citrate malate may contain toxic heavy metals. The worst offenders are carbonate (especially oyster shells, a common form). It’s very important to take magnesium in addition to calcium supplements. Most people consume only about half of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)/Daily Values (DV) of magnesium in their diets. Low levels of magnesium may lead to poor bone and cardiovascular health.

Natural Hypercet offers Better Health

If high cholesterol is so bad for us then why are low-fat, low cholesterol diets so difficult to stick to? After all we wouldn’t stick our hands into an open flame, yet from the various reports and statements of health experts, you’d think that eating cholesterol is just as dangerous. So why do our bodies “betray” us by constantly craving fats? The simple fact of the matter is that our body needs fat, and especially cholesterol, to function properly. Not only that, but our body actually makes cholesterol for a number of important bodily functions such as repair of damaged cell membranes, production of hormones, and digestion of fats.

So why the constant pushing of this or that natural remedy for high cholesterol? The fact is that high blood cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, can cause a number of heart diseases, and can lead to heart attack, or stroke. But even here there is more to it: in fact there is “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.” It is the ratio of these two types of cholesterol that is important.The Good: High - Density Lipoproteins (HDL’s)

As mentioned before, cholesterol is important for a number of metabolic functions, and especially for the repair of damaged cells. For this reason, it is important to have a constant level of cholesterol in our blood stream, so that it can be used wherever it is needed. HDL’s are responsible for removing cholesterol from the bloodstream and delivering it to the cells that need them. That’s good cholesterol!The Bad: Low - Density Lipoproteins (LDL’s)

If HDL’s are the “removal trucks” of cholesterol, removing it from the blood, then low-density lipoproteins are the “dumpsters.” They are responsible for taking cholesterol from the places in our body it is made, and dumping it in our bloodstream. This is not necessarily bad; as already mentioned, we need cholesterol in our blood so that it is available whenever and wherever it is needed. But what if it isn’t needed? If the levels of LDL’s in our body are too high, and our demand for cholesterol for cell repair is low, then there is more cholesterol being dumped in our blood than being removed. This is what causes high cholesterol, and it is bad because excess cholesterol forms a kind of plaque upon the side walls of our arteries. This restricts the blood flow, leading to high blood pressure, which in turn leads on to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Therefore, a natural remedy for high cholesterol should not seek to just lower cholesterol. A natural remedy for high cholesterol should aim to increase the number of HDL’s, good cholesterol, and lower the number of LDL’s, or bad cholesterol. Once this is grasped, the treatment of high cholesterol becomes a lot clearer - and hopefully your arteries will become clearer too.Trans-Fat

If LDL’s are bad, then trans-fat is just plain ugly. In 2004 bantransfat.com tried to sue McDonalds for using cooking oil that contained trans fat, or partially hydrogenated oils. Bantransfat.com lost because, after all, most people couldn’t see why trans fat is so much worse than other fats in our diet. Things have changed in the past two years however, and from January 2006 the FDA required all nutritional labels to list trans fat separately, and not as part of other fats. The reason is that studies have found that trans fat may be one of the main causes of heart attack and heart disease in the States. The American Heart Association advises Americans to eat as little of it as possible.

Trans fat is found in partially hydrogenated oil, which has a longer shelf life than ordinary oils. Foods that contain trans fat include fried chicken, cookies, French fries, and doughnuts, which is why many Americans can find them difficult to avoid. Most research concludes that we should avoid trans fat wherever possible, which is why the FDA’s ruling is so useful for those who want to eat a healthy diet.

Along with taking the right supplements for a healthy heart, it is recommended that we all avoid trans fat as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Because of the great efforts of the American Heart Association and other similar organizations, we have gained a lot of knowledge on cholesterol and its effects on our health. We know that high cholesterol levels increase our risk for heart attacks and strokes. We also know that lowering our cholesterol levels will reduce this risk and keep our hearts and blood vessels healthy. Additionally, we know that diet, weight loss, and exercise can help us lower our cholesterol levels. Prescription drugs that lower cholesterol have recently become available and advertised by pharmaceutical companies. However, these medications have some serious side effects including myopathy, reduction in CoQ10 levels, which can lead to heart disease, and rhabdomyaolysis, a rare, but fatal condition. Fortunately, there is a safe alternative to these prescription medications, pantethine and plant sterols, which are also known as phytosterols, are nature’s solution to high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol, a soft, waxy, fat-like substance, is found in every cell of the body. It is needed to help digest fats, strengthen cell membranes, insulate nerves, and make hormones. Made primarily by the liver, our body makes all the cholesterol that we actually need, but we also get additional cholesterol from the foods that we eat. The highest sources of cholesterol are egg yolks and organ meats including liver and kidney. Peanut butter, avocado, and all other plant-derived foods contain no cholesterol. However, all foods from animal sources do contain cholesterol. Even though cholesterol is responsible for many important functions in the body, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can be very dangerous. Once blood cholesterol has reached high levels, it builds up on artery walls, and therefore increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Because the heart is a muscle, it needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. The bloodstream, which transports these nutrients to the heart through coronary arteries, cannot transport the oxygen if the arteries become narrowed or clogged by cholesterol and fat deposits. Depending on the severity, this can result in coronary heart disease, angina, or heart attack.
Because cholesterol and other fats can’t dissolve in the blood, they can’t travel on their own. Instead, they are transported to and from cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are two major lipoproteins: low density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, and high density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. LDLs cause atherosclerosis because they clog up our arteries with the continual buildup of fat. On the other hand, HDL prevents fat buildup by carrying it away from the arteries to the liver, where it can be processed and eliminated.
Triglycerides, which are fats used as fuel by the body, can make the blood more sluggish and less capable of transporting oxygen when in high amounts. There are many medications prescribed by physicians for people with elevated triglyceride levels. Some of the most effective, and most harmful, are the statins. The all-natural combination of pantethine and plant sterols can safely lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels, while increasing HDL cholesterol.
Pantethine, which is a form of pantothenic acid that is found in liver, salmon, and yeast, is known for its ability to lower cholesterol by blocking its production. The production of cholesterol in the human body is a very complex process, involving many biochemical reactions and enzyme activity. Pantethine inhibits several of these enzymes, blocking the activity of those coenzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis by about 50%. To compensate for the lowered cholesterol production, the liver pulls LDL out of the bloodstream, resulting in a lower total cholesterol level.
Plant sterols, which are the fats of plants, are found in nuts, vegetable oils, corn, and rice. They are structurally very similar to cholesterol and are therefore able to act as a stand in for cholesterol and block its absorption, causing it to be eventually excreted. If we eat enough plant sterols, the amount of cholesterol transported from the intestinal tract to the liver is greatly reduced. And, just like pantethine’s effect on the liver, this cholesterol reduction causes the liver to pull LDL cholesterol out of the blood, which reduces both total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Because the plant sterol and pantethine found in food just aren’t enough to have much of an effect on our health, we need to take a concentrated combination of pantethine and plant sterols in just the right ratio. Plant sterols, which are bound in fibers in the plants, can not be adequately consumed even if we ate lots of raw fruits and vegetables. There are also several forms of plant sterols, with some ratios of these plant sterols being more beneficial than others. While pantethine is found in several food sources, it is hard to get beneficial amounts from our food. Manufacturers of high quality nutritional supplements offer pantethine and plant sterols in the most beneficial ratio, proven by research. The best results are found when taking a combination of 400 mg of plant sterols and 200 mg of pantethine three times a day. Recent studies have shown that lowering cholesterol in people without heart disease can greatly reduce their risk for ever developing CHD, along with heart attacks and atherosclerosis. This is also true for those with high cholesterol levels and for those with average cholesterol levels. Most physicians would never consider prescribing statin drugs to people without actual heart disease or high cholesterol levels because of the many health risks of the drugs. However, the combination of pantethine and plant sterols are very effective in helping those people with heart disease, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, as well as those just wanting the extra health insurance for their hearts. Pantethine and plant sterols are both very safe. Although some people may experience a mild upset stomach when first taking pantethine, taking the combination of pantethine and plant sterols with meals can usually solve this problem. Pantethine and plant sterols are available at your local or internet vitamin store.

It’s been 20 years since I completed the Ironman Triathlon. Now my Olympic dreams have given way to the nightmare of paying for my kids education. Still, I workout regularly, eat well and almost fit into the jeans I wore in the ’80s. So…
How Could I Possibly Have A Cholesterol Problem?
Since I’m your doctor, I’m a little embarrassed to reveal my cholesterol numbers. But if we’re going to beat it together-here they are:
•My total cholesterol is 213 (not terrible, since the goal for total cholesterol is below 200).
•My LDL (low density aka bad cholesterol) is 155. The ideal for bad cholesterol is below 130 (100 if you have heart problems). LDL, cholesterol’s evil step brother, got its bad reputation by filling your arteries with fat causing high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and dementia. The LDL may be the single most important number we measure.
•My HDL (good cholesterol) is 55. HDL should stay over 45 for men and 55 for women. The higher the better since HDLs remove the fatty plaques from your arteries and brings them to the liver for elimination
The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL is important to measure. It tells us the amount of fatty material floating around in comparison to the amount being removed. The ideal ratio is 3.5 or less. So if my HDL is 55, to have an ideal cholesterol to HDL ratio of 3.5, my total cholesterol has to be 192 or less (your HDL x 3.5 = the highest total cholesterol you can have and still be ideal.) Try it out…plug in your HDL, multiply it by 3.5 and see if your cholesterol is out of balance.
All Men May Be Created Equal, But All Fats Aren’t
The leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart attacks, cancer and strokes. These diseases all have one thing in common; they are all related to the type of fat we eat. Notice that I didn’t say the amount of fat. That’s not nearly as important (although obesity is!).
Some fats actually improve our health. They correct our cholesterol balance, prevent heart attacks, reduce the chance of stroke and prevent inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.
You’ll spot the good fats. They’re liquid at room temperature and consist of:
•Monounsaturated Oils like olive oil, canola oil, oils derived from nuts and avocados.
•Polyunsaturated Oils like corn, soybean, and safflower oils and fish.
Some Fats Aren’t So Good. They’re solid in room temperature and are called:
•Saturated Fats. They’re found in whole milk, red meat, chicken skin, butter, cheese, chocolate and even coconuts. Basically, milk products and meat contain saturated fats. They raise both good and bad cholesterols, but hurt the proper cholesterol/HDL ratio.
Some of us have to be more careful than others since 75% of our cholesterol is manufactured by the liver. In other words, if you’ve got the bad cholesterol genes and your liver continually pumps out cholesterol, you need to act on this newsletter. Others can just pass it on to those who aren’t so blessed.
The Most Evil Fat of All is:
•Man made and prematurely ages and kills thousands of people every year.
•Not safe in any amount to anyone (Institute of Medicine).
•Responsible for Significantly Raising our Bad Cholesterol While Lowering Our Good Cholesterol.
•So unhealthy that even bacteria and mold won’t grow on it.
They are called Trans Fats
These are fake, man made fats. They started as real oils but were heated then cooled until they became solid. This process is called hydrogenation (because it adds hydrogen). You know who they are; they’re the fried foods, fast foods, commercial packaged baked goods, margarine, vegetable shortening and all products that say “hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated” in the ingredients.
You’ll see them all over packaged foods because they never die or go bad. They nearly last forever, since mold and bacteria won’t even grow on them. Nothing will!
In fact, The Nurses’ Health Study found when they replaced only 30 calories of carbohydrates with 30 calories of trans fats the risk of heart disease nearly doubled. When they replaced 80 calories of carbohydrates with 80 calories of either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats (the good fats), your chance of heart disease dropped by 30 to 40 percent. THAT’S A BIG HEALTH GAIN WITH LESS THAN 100 CALORIES OF DIET CHANGE!
Let’s put it another way…
By replacing that glob of margarine with olive oil, you’ll lower your chance of heart disease by one-third.
Is it worth it?
This is so important that in January 2006, a law requiring all food packaging to state whether it contains trans fats goes into effect.
To summarize, fats can be either liquid or solid at room temperature. Always choose liquids, they are the good fats. Fats that are solid at room temperature should be avoided. When cooking with oil, stir fry…don’t deep fry.
If you need to buy foods with trans fats, make sure they are listed as low as possible on the ingredient list. The higher on the list, the more in the food.
Is There Anything I Can Take, Naturally, To Balance My Cholesterol?
There appears to be three or four effective products worthy of a try, such as:
Garlic: While there is disagreement in the literature, the garlic that hasn’t had its odor removed (wild garlic) may lower your total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides (circulating blood fat) about 10%.
Fish Oil: An abundant quantity of research seems to conclude that 1-2 grams of a fish oil supplement per day reduces your chance of a heart attack and stroke by preventing dangerous, irregular heart rhythms, thinning the blood, lowering triglycerides and preventing inflammation. In fact, one large trial found that by taking just 1 gram per day of fish oil over a 3.5 year period reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by 25 percent in those who already survived one heart attack. While it significantly lowered triglycerides, it seemed to slightly raise bad cholesterol.
Since women’s hearts are especially sensitive to high triglycerides. Those whose levels are high may benefit from taking 4 g/day of fish oil. Adding apple pectin (a type of fiber) to the fish oil seems to increase its triglyceride lowering ability even further. Flax seed oil, also an Omega 3 fatty acid (like fish oil), doesn’t seem to lower triglyceride levels.
So make sure it’s fish oil not just Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Niacin: (Nicotinic acid) Lowers bad and total cholesterol and raises good cholesterol. It also can lower triglycerides. Unfortunately the dose needed for treatment is about 100 times more than the Recommended Daily Allowance and can potentially be toxic, especially to your liver. It should be considered a medication and taken only under your doctor’s directions if the other natural alternatives weren’t effective or appropriate.
Plant Sterols and Stanols: These plant products are added to some margarines and prevent the absorption of cholesterol in our intestines. In daily use, it has consistently lowered bad cholesterol about 10%.3,7 So far it does not appear to have long term negative effects. Life long use is predicted to result in a 20% decrease in coronary events.
But, The Best Is Saved For Last
Policosanol: A sugar cane derivative that lowers total cholesterol by 16% to 21%, bad cholesterol by 21% to 29% and raises good cholesterol by 8% to 15%. Although it’s triglyceride lowering effects have not been consistent, other cardiac benefits such as the prevention of clots and the dangerous oxidation of bad cholesterol have been demonstrated. Three year follow-ups have not shown negative side effects. 10-20 mg/day seems to be just as beneficial as higher doses.
Standard pharmaceutical treatments today include Statin Drugs, such as:
• Mevacor
• Zocor and
• Pravachol
They work by interfering with the liver’s ability to produce cholesterol and increasing its ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. Although statins can lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 60 percent, they can also damage the liver and, in rare incidences, cause a serious or deadly illness.
But, there’s good news. The chances of dying from the three leading causes of death (coronary vascular, cancer and strokes) are largely under your control.
Don’t Tell Me These Three Steps Are Too Hard…
1. Test your cholesterol (good, bad and total) and triglycerides
2. Watch the type of fats you eat.
o Eat fats that are oils at room temperature
o Moderately limit meat and dairy fats
o Severely limit margarine, fried foods and packaged food with the word “hydrogenated” in the ingredients.
3. If your cholesterol or triglycerides are elevated or out of balance, talk to us about whether you are a candidate for natural treatments. They can be very effective and may prevent the need for medications. Sometimes medications are necessary but the supplements may allow you to take a lower dose.

High cholesterol is not a laughing matter. Since it can cause you to experience heart disease, which can be life threatening, high cholesterol should not be taken lightly. A very important key to lowering cholesterol levels is having an understanding of your cholesterol ratio. Here are a few of the different things that you should know about your total ratio and your HDL LDL ratio.  The most important thing that you should know about your total cholesterol ratio is that it is a determining factor of your risk of developing heart disease, which can ultimately, and at worst case, lead to death. The way that it works is by dividing your HDL cholesterol into your overall cholesterol. Keep in mind that cholesterol is measured in milligrams and deciliters, or mg’s and dl’s. Let’s pretend, for example, that your total cholesterol was 200 mg/dl, while your HDL was 50 mg/dl. In this case, your cholesterol ratio would be 4-1. Having cholesterol ratio that is any higher than 5-1 is a sign that you may be at risk for heart disease. Keep in mind that there is also something called the HDL LDL ratio, which needs to be taken into consideration as well. As you can probably guess, this ratio measures the ratio between your HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. This ratio is a larger determining factor of the risk of heart disease. The reason is because it shows the ratio between your good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, which is the largest factor that determines your risk of heart disease. The formula to determine HDL LDL ratio is much more complicated and, thus, it tends to be very pricey. Overall, however, your HDL to LDL cholesterol ratio should not be any higher than 4.4 and you should strive to keep it at or below 3.3. Any HDL to LDL ratio level above 7 to 11 indicates a high risk of heart disease. Keep in mind that there are several things that you can do in order to lower your cholesterol. Making healthier food choices and following an exercise routine are just two of the many different things that you can do to keep both your HDL to LDL ratio and your total cholesterol ratio down. And there are also very effective measures you can take using natural and organic cholesterol lowering treatments to help lower your cholesterol ratio.