How can I can I raise the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level In my body?

Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet can help you raise the high-density lipoprotein levels in your body. Curtis Mann, MD, explains how you can raise HDL levels in your body.

Transcript

00:00

CURTIS MANN: Genetics plays a huge part of this. So we see people that happen to have HDL, and fortunately they're just blessed with good genes.

00:07

And that really is the best way to have a high HDL is to have the correct genetic code,

00:13

but unfortunately there's few of us that can manipulate that if any of us. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:27

Increasing HDL, there are some things we can do. First thing we wanna do is look at lifestyle.

00:35

If somebody is a smoker, not smoking is gonna increase that HDL. If somebody is overweight, or if they're obese decreasing weight

00:43

is gonna be able to increase that HDL. Also looking at diets, so decreasing saturated fats,

00:50

increasing monounsaturated fats, those are going to be a couple of things that are gonna be able to increase that HDL.

00:57

Exercise is important, too, and then also if there are certain medications that you're taking maybe like beta blockers, which are primarily for high blood

01:05

pressure or heart disease, benzodiazepines, which is an anti-anxiety medicine,

01:11

or androgens like testosterone. All those can potentially decrease the HDL. So looking at certain medications

01:19

and seeing if you need to be on those or if there's a substitute that might also increase your HDL. [AUDIO LOGO]