Total Cholesterol Level

• Your HDL, LDL and triglyceride level should be at 200 mg/dL or below.
  
  

HDL Cholesterol

• The HDL cholesterol levels are the "good guys" that prevent heart disease. They should be at least 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women.
  
  

LDL Cholesterol

• These are the "bad guys," which can cause heart disease. A measurement of less than 100 mg/dL is optimal, and 100 to 129 mg/dL is near optimal.
  
  

Triglycerides

• Simply put, triglycerides are fat. Normal readings should be under 150 mg/dL
  
  

Controlling Cholesterol

• Eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and staying dedicated to your exercise program can help lower the bad LDLs and triglycerides, and raise your HDLs.