HDL, or the "good" cholesterol is considered to be beneficial, since HDL helps removes the "bad" LDL cholesterol.

Eating healthfully results in a reduction of the "bad" LDL cholesterol, but many times patients also see a reduction in their "good" HDL cholesterol, which can be concerning. Studies show that using drugs to raise HDL in those patients that already have favorable LDL levels does not further reduce their cardiovascular risk. Dr. Joel Fuhrman explains that having lower HDL levels is not harmful when eating an optimal diet. Since the role of HDL is to remove the bad LDL cholesterol from our bloodstream, the lower the LDL, the less HDL is required. He goes on to say, "Manipulating cholesterol levels with drugs is simply not enough to resolve cardiovascular disease and prevent future heart attacks and strokes. Only healthy living which addresses multiple parameters simultaneously can restore cardiovascular health."

For More Information: HDL: Is Higher Really Better?