What are my target cholesterol levels?
The ideal cholesterol levels vary by age. Here’s a guide:
| Age and gender | Total cholesterol | Non-HDL cholesterol | LDL (bad) cholesterol | HDL (good) cholesterol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| people age 19 and younger | less than 170 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) | less than 120 mg/dL | less than 110 mg/dL | more than 45 mg/dL |
| men age 20 and older | 125 to 200 mg/dL | less than 130 mg/dL | less than 100 mg/dL | 40 mg/dL or higher |
| women age 20 and older | 125 to 200 mg/dL | less than 130 mg/dL | less than 100 mg/dL | 50 mg/dL or higher |
See a future lesson for a breakdown of these cholesterol types.
Fast fact
You may think that eating food high in cholesterol will automatically drive up your blood cholesterol levels, but the fats and carbs in your diet often have a much bigger effect on your cholesterol levels. Your body turns carbs into sugar and sugar can drive up cholesterol.
