Millions of Americans struggle to control high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to facilitate several biological functions. But too much of it can significantly increase your risk of heart disease.
Read our guide to lowering your cholesterol to make improvements and get healthy.
Improve Your Diet
A poor diet can create significant cholesterol issues. To reduce your cholesterol levels, you need to decrease your intake of foods that increase your cholesterol. The worst offenders are saturated fats and trans fats.
Saturated fats are prevalent in red meat and full-fat dairy products. They increase your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol.
Trans fats are in many processed foods like margarine, cookies, crackers, etc. They can raise your total cholesterol levels.
Avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats. Then, focus on increasing your intake of heart-healthy foods. Good examples include meals rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber and whey protein.
Get More Exercise
Staying active and physically fit is a fantastic way to lower cholesterol levels. Exercise increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. That's the "good" cholesterol your body needs.
Aim to work out at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week. Aerobic exercises are great for lowering cholesterol levels.
Kick Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact heart health and increase cholesterol levels.
Quitting smoking can make a big difference. Cessation allows your HDL cholesterol levels to increase.
Moderate alcohol consumption is OK. But it's best to avoid too much of it. Excessive consumption can lead to serious health problems related to your blood pressure, heart and liver.
Speak with Your Doctor
Finally, work with your doctor to understand your cholesterol levels and long-term risks. Your doctor can look at your current cholesterol levels and help you develop a plan to see improvements. You'll likely hear them recommend an improved diet and more exercise in their guide to lowering your cholesterol.
However, doctors can also prescribe drugs like statins to help you see results. Understanding where you stand and making positive changes to reduce your health risks are the best ways to get in front of high cholesterol levels.
Discover clinically proven cholesterol lowering foods! Explore this website for insights on dietary choices that promote heart health and well-being.
