Blog
Cholesterol Numbers Explained: LDL, HDL and Triglycerides
Cholesterol numbers explained simply: the CDC gives targets of about 150 mg/dL total, about 100 mg/dL for LDL, at least 40 for HDL in men and 50 in women, and triglycerides under 150. Total above 200 may be considered high. The only way to know your numbers is a cholesterol test.
Written by the Melonexcare editorsUpdated · 5 min read
No. 01The targets
What are healthy cholesterol numbers?
Healthy cholesterol numbers, by CDC targets, are about 150 mg/dL total, about 100 LDL, at least 40 HDL for men or 50 for women, and triglycerides under 150 (CDC, About cholesterol).
The CDC adds that a total above 200 may be considered high (CDC, About cholesterol). Your doctor may use different goals for you, based on age, history and other risks.
So treat the table as a map, not a verdict. Bring your lab slip to your visit and ask what your own goal is.
| Measure | Target |
|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | About 150 (above 200 may be high) |
| LDL ("bad") | About 100 |
| HDL ("good") | At least 40 (men), 50 (women) |
| Triglycerides | Under 150 |
Targets from the CDC (CDC, About cholesterol).
No. 02Meaning
What do LDL, HDL and triglycerides mean?
LDL is the cholesterol that can build plaque in arteries, HDL is the type that can lower risk, and triglycerides are blood fats (CDC, About cholesterol).
The CDC calls LDL "bad" and HDL "good" for that reason (CDC, About cholesterol). For LDL, lower is better. For HDL, higher is better.
Triglycerides are another blood fat on your panel. The CDC target is under 150.
A quick worked example: a man with an LDL of 130 is above the about-100 target, while an HDL of 45 meets the at-least-40 mark. A woman with the same HDL of 45 would fall short of her 50. Numbers read differently for each person, so ask your doctor to explain the whole slip, not one line. See heart health basics for the wider picture.
- LDL: aim down, toward the target your doctor gives you.
- HDL: aim up, at least 40 or 50 depending on sex.
- Triglycerides: keep under 150.
No. 03The test
How do I find out my cholesterol numbers?
You find out your cholesterol numbers with a blood test ordered by your doctor, because the CDC says it is the only way to know (CDC, About cholesterol).
You cannot feel high cholesterol. Feeling fine is not a result, and a healthy-looking person can still have high numbers. Ask how often your age and history call for a check.
Ask for a lipid panel
It lists total, LDL, HDL and triglycerides.
Ask about fasting
Your clinic will say if you should skip food first.
Get the paper slip
Keep a copy of every result to see change over time, and note the date. A trend across several tests tells your doctor far more than one number on one day.
Review it together
Ask which number matters most for you, and when to test again.
No. 04Safety
What if a new supplement makes me feel faint?
If a new supplement makes you feel faint, sit down and call your doctor; pressure can drop too low with some products.
Lipid worries often lead people to try new products. Some bring side effects of their own. NCCIH says red yeast rice can contain monacolin K, which is identical to the drug lovastatin, and amounts vary (NCCIH, Red yeast rice).
Know the signs of too-low pressure before you add anything.
- Dizzy on standingLightheaded when you get up fast
- Faint or close to itGraying vision, legs giving way
- Reading 90/60 or lowerOn a checked home cuff
- New after a changeStarted with a new pill or supplement
- Weak or unusually tiredOut of step with your day
Sit, then callSit or lie down until it passes, stand up slowly, and call your doctor or pharmacist the same day. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Call 911For chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, pain in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder, or feeling weak, light-headed or faint with those signs.
Low pressure: MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Low blood pressure). Heart attack signs: CDC (CDC, Heart attack symptoms). Arginine and citrulline may add to blood pressure drugs, nitrates and sildenafil-type drugs (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine) (RxList, L-citrulline).
Never stop a cholesterol or blood pressure medicine for a supplement. Tell your doctor about everything you take.
No. 05Melonex
Does Melonex lower cholesterol?
No, Melonex makes no cholesterol claim; its label lists a 500 mg blend of L-citrulline DL-malate and two forms of L-arginine.
The label words are "Heart Support*", "Circulation Support*" and "Natural Formula*", with the FDA statement that they have not been evaluated. Cholesterol is not mentioned, and no trial has tested the capsule.
Read cholesterol supplements explained for the evidence ladder. Prices are as listed in the seller's materials; confirm at checkout.
Prices as listed on the seller’s order page, October 19, 2026; confirm at checkout. The 2-bottle kit is $158 plus $9.99 shipping. Check your medicines with your doctor first. 60-day money-back guarantee (seller’s terms).
Melonex is a dietary supplement, not a treatment. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you take a nitrate for chest pain, an erectile-dysfunction drug such as sildenafil, any blood pressure medicine, a potassium-sparing diuretic, a blood thinner or a diabetes medicine, or if you have had a heart attack. Arginine and citrulline can push blood pressure down further. Keep taking prescribed medicine. See side effects and interactions.
No. 06FAQ
Melonex questions people ask
Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
Your clinic will tell you, since instructions vary. Ask when you book. Follow what they say, and drink plain water unless told otherwise.
Is a total cholesterol of 210 bad?
The CDC says a total above 200 may be considered high (CDC, About cholesterol). Look at LDL and HDL too, and ask your doctor what 210 means for you.
Can I check my cholesterol at home?
Home kits exist, but a clinic panel is the standard way. The CDC says a cholesterol test is the only way to know (CDC, About cholesterol). Share any home result with your doctor.
No. 07Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle label, the seller’s order page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, AHA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Melonexcare, which describes itself as an authorized American Melonex outlet. It is not the manufacturer or the label’s distributor. Buying through our order links earns us money.
Keep reading
More about Melonex
Authorized American Melonex outlet
Ready to start Melonex?
Bring the label to your doctor or pharmacist first, then choose a pack. Six bottles cost the least per bottle, and the seller lists a 60-day money-back guarantee on every kit.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day money-back
- Ships from the U.S.