Total Cholesterol: 159 mg/dL

What does a total cholesterol level of 159 mean?

A total cholesterol level of 159 mg/dL is considered optimal. Optimal total cholesterol is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

Your total cholesterol is calculated by adding your LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and 20% of your triglyceride levels. 

• LDL, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, accumulates in your blood vessels and increases your risk for heart disease. Ideally, LDL levels should be less than 100 mg/dL, but lower is better. 

• HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because it scavenges “bad” cholesterol and sends it to the liver for excretion. This is how HDL protects against heart disease. The ideal HDL level is >60 mg/dL, though >40 mg/dL for men and >50 mg/dL for women are still considered good.

• Triglycerides are another type of fat that can build up in the bloodstream and increase your risk of heart disease. Ideally, triglycerides should be <150 mg/dL.  

How to maintain optimal total cholesterol levels

Maintaining an optimal total cholesterol level is good for your overall health and can lower your risk of developing heart disease in the future. 

Cholesterol levels tend to increase as you get older, so it’s best to put heart-healthy habits into place now. Here are some things you can do to help keep your levels in the optimal range:  

• Fill up on fiber-rich foods like veggies, fruit, whole grains, and legumes, aiming to get 30-40 grams of fiber each day. 

• Limit your consumption of refined carbohydrates and added sugars. Common sources of these include white bread, pasta, and rice, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and breakfast cereals, and packaged snacks and baked goods.

• Avoid trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils) and reduce saturated fat intake to < 10% total calories. 

• Eat small, fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and trout, at least twice a week. 

• Be active every day, aiming for 30-60 minutes of physical activity 5x/week.

• Incorporate plant sterols and stanols daily (2g) in the form of food or a supplement. 

• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.

• Quit smoking if you currently smoke.

• If you have diabetes, achieve and maintain good blood sugar control (HbA1c).