Cholesterol has different parts. LDL is the main “bad” cholesterol—ideally <100 mg/dL. HDL is the “good” cholesterol—higher is generally better. Triglycerides are another type of blood fat—ideally <150 mg/dL. Total cholesterol is ideally <200 mg/dL. The important thing is to look at the whole lipid profile, not just total cholesterol.