More and more people are becoming aware of the real danger obesity poses and have begun to take much better care of themselves.

A hot topic on this subject is that of Cholesterol and Triglycerides .

The common misperception is that all cholesterol is bad, but in fact there is both good and bad cholesterol that play different roles in your body.

It is very important that everyone truly understands what cholesterol and triglycerides really are and how they affect the body so that can make intelligent decisions regarding treatment . To keep it simple, there are two types of cholesterol to be concerned about, LDL and HDL.

LDL And HDL

LDL is considered the bad form of cholesterol because two much of it in your blood can build up on the inner artery that feed the heart and brain over time.

In addition, LDL can work with other substances in the body to form plaque which is a thick, hard deposit that can eventually clog the arteries causing a condition known as atherosclerosis.

On the flip side, HDL is considered to be the good cholesterol, HDL is needed by the body and in healthy levels will actually protect against a heart attack and too low a level will allow LDL to build up and increase the risk of heart attack .

Triglycerides

When discussing cholesterol there is one other factor you should consider and that is triglycerides.

Triglycerides are a fat that can be found naturally in food, but are also created by our bodies . This is important to cholesterol because it has been found that those with a high triglyceride level often also have a high total cholesterol, a high LDL and a low HDL.

I t is very important to have your levels check regularly in order to keep yourself healthy and fit. Everyone's health is affected to a large extent by cholesterol and you need to know when your LDL levels are too high, when your HDL levels are two low or when you have a combination of both. It just makes good sense to know whether your body is healthy or not .

Sometimes checking your levels regularly isn't enough as these levels can change dramatically and quickly . If you were checked about a month ago it doesn't mean you are still healthy today. So it is important to make LDL and HDL levels a part of your regular checkup at the doctors office.

This way you can stay on top of your health and know when you need to make the necessary lifestyle changes to prolong your life and reduce your risk of heart disease. You doctor can recommend the necessary lifestyle changes and medications that you may need if they find you have high or low levels.