Here’s a crazy concept: You may be able to reduce inflammation by increasing cholesterol. Now, why would you want to increase cholesterol? Doesn’t high cholesterol contribute to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and inflammation? It most certainly can. But remember, not all cholesterol is created equal. First, you’ve got low-density lipoprotein—LDL—cholesterol. This is the bad stuff. It’s the stuff that can accumulate along arterial walls and blood vessels to boost blood pressure, increase the risk for heart disease, and contribute to inflammation. On the other hand, there is high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol. It’s the “good” cholesterol you hear about, and it picks up excess cholesterol and transports it to your liver, where it is eventually excreted as waste. New research has revealed that more HDL may lead to less inflammation. A recent study published in Circulation, the American Heart Association journal, has shown that HDL cholesterol can fight inflammation in …