Methods To Lower CholesterolA wide rance of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases can arise with the presence of excess cholesterol in the blood stream. High blood pressure, heart diseae, stroke, and paralysis can easily occur. As the liver continues to dump excesses cholesterol in the arterial wall, these fatty deposits can later harden and form a plaque. Eventually the blood flow will be obstructed as the artery keeps narrowing, and the tissues and organs of the body will suffocate. The good news is, it is possible to reduce cholesterol levels by making some simple lifestyle changes. A healthy diet is the first part. If dietary changes are not effective, then prescription medication is the the next step. Important lifestyle changes to lowering your cholesterol: - Lose weight - Regular exercise - Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol in the diet - Quit smoking Excess Body Weight and Obesity When suffering from obesity, there are not only increased levels of total cholesterol in the body, but also a reduced amount of protective HDL in the bloodstream. Low HDL levels can also make the symptoms of high cholesterol worse. HDL is reponsible for removing extra cholesterol in the tissues and returning it back to the liver for disposal. This is why we call it the 'good' cholesterol. Exercise Regular aerobic exercise helps a high cholesterol condition in two ways. Firstly, it will help remove excess weight, and secondly it increases HDL levels. So if we lose weight, the overall cholesterol in the body is reduce, and HDL levels are also increased. Walking, cycling, rollerblading, dancing, swimming, and other activities for 30 minutes 5 days a week is excellent for reducing cholesterol. Diet Diet is typically how we got a high cholesterol condition in the first place. It can also help us return to a normal healthy level of cholesterol as well. When we eat saturated fats, trans fats, and other refined foods, our cholesterol levels will increase. The liver will make all the cholesterol that our body needs to be healthy. Extra cholesterol in our diet is not necessary and often causes health problems. Soluble fibers, omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can effectively lower cholesterol levels. Prescription medication such as statins can also be combined in the cholesterol reducing program. Remember to exclude red meats, creamy dairy products, refined sugars, alcohol, fried foods and commercial bakery items. Smoking It is already known that smoking can cause a wide variety of health problems. The thousands of chemicals in cigarettes can affect almost every organ in the body. Cardiovascular diseases are mainly caused by smoking because it will harden the arteries and reduce HDL levels. Quitting smoking can both lower your cholesterol and raise HDL levels, and hence reduce your risk of deadly heart diseases. |