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Ways To Have A Healthy Cholesterol Level |
By:
Adrian Fletcher |
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Ways To Have A Healthy Cholesterol Level
Adrian Fletcher
You want to keep a normal level of cholesterol during your life as high cholesterol can lead to a number of illnesses and diseases. The most common condition is known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Cholesterol or LDL cholesterol sticks to the inner walls of the arteries making the volume of blood that can be transported by the arteries less. This can lead to higher blood pressure and ultimately problems with the heart. Bits of cholesterol can break free from the walls and cause blood clots and strokes. Thus it is important to keep healthy cholesterol levels, but what is healthy ? Healthy is measured by the amount of cholesterol (in milligrams) in a deciliter of blood. If this amount is greater than 200 then you have above normal cholesterol levels and it is important that you try to reduce it. This article will give you some ways to reduce this level.
It is actually remarkably easy to reduce your cholesterol level. Above all, you will need the desire and will power to change your habits and stick to the changes long after they have become unexciting. This is probably where most people fail.
First up you need to change your diet. Ditch the junk food if this is a part of your life. Also work out what is junk and what is good for you. Without doubt fresh is best. Fresh vegetables and fruit will lower your cholesterol. Eating fatty meats is a no no. Cook foods with mono unsaturated oils like canola or olive oil rather than saturated oils. Think about baking, broiling or grilling food rather than frying it. Try to minimize your intake of deep fried foods like fries. Avoid any processed foods that are cooked or preserved with trans fats. Decrease your intake of dairy products. If you really like dairy produce then look from light alternative that have reduced fat content. It may not taste as nice but this has to be done to get a health cholesterol level. Think about eating foods with plant sterols in them. These are typically spreads or yogurts.
Get more regular exercise. This will help to burn up the food you eat and keep your weight stable. It is good for the heart and cardiovascular system. However check with your doctor before starting a program. They can check that you have no problems that prohibit taking exercise. If planned exercise like going to the gym bores you senseless then look at things that are not regimented. Try walking more often. Take stairs rather than elevators in the office and department stores. Walk or ride to work. Do fun things like dance classes.
Don't smoke and if you are currently smoking then make plans to give up. Not withstanding all the horrible pictures that you find on cigarette packets these days, it is also bad for your cholesterol level. Smoking decreases the production of HDL cholesterol that help to excrete or lower cholesterol levels in the body.
Stress is thought to increase cholesterol levels because it causes hormones to be released in the body that alter how the body metabolizes food and uses energy reserves. This has been shown to increase cholesterol in clinical test cases. This is made even worse if the person is experiencing chronic or long term stress. Try to limit your exposure to stress or find ways to relieve it.
If you follow some of these ideas then you will be on the right track to getting a healthy cholesterol level. Sticking with them and learning as you go is the best strategy as your cholesterol will get high again if you don't make them part of your lifestyle rather than a quick fix solution to your health problems.
Find out how to reduce cholesterol with foods to eat to lower cholesterol at lowcholesteroldieting.com.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article70823.html |
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