HDL cholesterolHDL-C · 'Good' cholesterol

HDL cholesterol is the cholesterol carried by high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which help move cholesterol away from the tissues and back to the liver for recycling or disposal — a process linked to protecting the arteries.

It matters because higher HDL is generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk, earning it the 'good' cholesterol label. But the relationship is more nuanced than 'more is always better': very high HDL stops adding benefit, and simply forcing it up with drugs has not reliably reduced risk.

In practice, HDL is read alongside triglycerides — a low HDL with high triglycerides is a common fingerprint of insulin resistance — and tends to improve with exercise, not smoking and better metabolic health.