With the rise of cardiovascular diseases, affecting the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular), many people are familiar with the association between cholesterol and heart disease, given that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm). Consumers are reminded by health practitioners and the food industry to consume heart-healthy foods and reduce foods that negatively affect our heart. A healthy lifestyle can keep your arteries healthy with cholesterol and lipids in balance, preventing the onset and progression of disease.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and cholesterol are monitored in health screenings because altered levels are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, a serious concern that needs early detection and intervention. The levels of these compounds relate to ...