'Good' and 'bad' cholesterol

The notion of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol comes from the way it's carried around in the body. The carriers are called 'lipoproteins' and there are two types - low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL).

LDL transports cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. When there's more LDL cholesterol in the blood than the body needs, cholesterol accumulates in body tissues, such as the walls of coronary arteries. Here it can build up and can have an adverse effect on your heart. That's why LDL cholesterol is called 'bad' cholesterol.

HDL picks up and transports surplus cholesterol from the body tissues back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed out of the body. That's why HDL cholesterol is called 'good' cholesterol.