what does good cholesterol do
1 High-density lipoproteins. 2  These lipoproteins are often referred to as HDL, or good, cholesterol. 3  They act as cholesterol scavengers, picking up excess cholesterol in your blood and taking it back to your liver where it's broken down. 4  The higher your HDL level, the less bad cholesterol you'll have in your blood.nderstanding HDL cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's found in all of your cells and has several useful functions, including helping to build your body's cells. It's carried through your bloodstream attached to proteins. These proteins are called lipoproteins. 1  Low-density lipoproteins.