Cholesterol

A waxy fat in your blood. Too much of the "bad" type (LDL) raises your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Cholesterol is essential — your body uses it to build cells and hormones — but high LDL ("bad" cholesterol) can build up in artery walls and trigger heart disease.

LDL — keep low (< 130 mg/dL for average risk)
HDL — keep high (> 40–50 mg/dL)
Triglycerides — keep < 150 mg/dL