Your total cholesterol is made up of HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). You want to have as much good cholesterol (HDL) as you can because HDL protects your heart and it also flushes out, or lowers the bad cholesterol (LDL). Your HDL cholesterol should be 60 mg/dl or higher. The only way to raise your HDL cholesterol, besides medication, is by increasing your physical activity. Find out what your HDL level is now. Exercise for 150 minutes/week or more for at least 3 months, and then get your HDL rechecked. It takes 3 months of a change in your diet or physical activity before you will see a change in your blood work. So get moving more to see results!