The association of a high blood cholesterol with heart disease is well established and accepted. The metabolism of fats is important in understanding the development of serious diseases such as heart disease.
As mentioned, high cholesterol can attribute to the development of heart diseases and other serious health problems.
Cholesterol does not come off as a single item in the body. It is further classified into low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or the bad cholesterol, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or the good cholesterol.
LDL exerts a harmful effect on the arterial wall and accelerates arteriosclerosis. Hence, higher amount of LDL or bad cholesterol in the body can undeniably bring about heart problems and other diseases associated with high cholesterol levels.
Lifestyle and Lower Cholesterol
Your lifestyle tells so much about you especially your health. I fact, it has been proven that it can put a great impact on your cholesterol levels. The foods that you eat, exercise, your weight, and the way you cope up with the daily stress in your environment can make a big difference.
Moreover, the amount of cholesterol in your body is also induced by how much and whether you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.
Studies show that cigarette smoking contributes to the development and severity of LDL or the bad cholesterol in the body. Cessation of tobacco use among smokers results in a lower rate of high cholesterol levels and, of course, cardiac events. Drinking alcohol has also the same damaging effect.
Hence, it is necessary for a person with high levels of LDL to change his lifestyle to lower cholesterol. Here is how:
1. Get your blood flowing
Get your heart rate up and keep it up through brisk walking or any other type of aerobic exercise like bicycling or jogging. It will raise HDL or the good cholesterol levels anywhere from 5% to 30%. Exercise works to boost HDL cholesterol levels by improving your body?s efficiency at breaking down blood fats or triglycerides, which are the building blocks of HDL.
Hence, health experts recommends exercising three or more times a week for 20 to 30 minutes a session.
2. Stay lean
Putting on pounds can raise your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower your HDL cholesterol level. If you want to prevent cholesterol problems, do not become overweight. Try to build up those muscles and avoid accumulating fats more than what is necessary for the body.
3. If you drink, stop at one or two
According to health experts, there is evidence that approximately one ounce of alcohol a day can help increase HDL cholesterol.
Studies show that one ounce of alcohol translates into two 4-ounce glasses of wine, two 12-ounce glasses of beer; or two 1 ? -ounce shots of spirits. It can also raise triglyceride levels if your genes lean this way.
But do not start drinking as a health move. A cardiologist who tells nondrinkers to start drinking to control their cholesterol is not making a credible recommendation.
Statistical reports show that one in every five people who starts drinking becomes a problem drinker. And the health risks from excessive drinking are serious. Having more than two drinks a day puts you at extra risk for stroke, high blood pressure, and various types of cancer.
Most clinicians believed that lifestyle contribute to the pathogenesis of increases LDL or bad cholesterol and it has already been proven countless times. Psychological and epidemiologic studies describe behaviors that characterizes people who are prone to serious health problems such as heart diseases and other cholesterol-related diseases.
This is solidly reflected on your lifestyle. Therefore, it is about time you change your lifestyle and lower the incidence of developing these problems because of your high LDL cholesterol level.
Dr. Michael Lee is a board certified physician who has counselled thousands of patients on lowering their cholesterol. To get free tips on lowering your choleseterol naturally without harmful drugs, please check out http://zapcholesterol.com/tips.html | |
