HDL is another lipoprotein with the job of carrying cholesterol throughout the bloodstream. HDL transports about 25% of blood cholesterol.

What makes HDL good is that it moves cholesterol away from your arteries. HDL also helps prevent LDL from depositing into the arterial walls. In some ways, HDL serves as a “scavenger” within your body, picking up excess cholesterol and returning it to the liver. In the liver, the cholesterol is converted to a key component of bile. It is then excreted into the intestine where a portion is eliminated, and the remainder is used in the absorption of fat.

It’s important to note that HDL is a critical link in the only mechanism by which cholesterol can be removed from your body. As a result, people with high levels of HDL generally have a lower risk of heart disease.