Millions of people around the world who want to stay healthy would always want to know how to lower cholesterol levels. But most of these people do not know exactly what cholesterol is. Nor do they know exactly what the sources of cholesterol are and what affects its rise and fall. A great percentage of them are not aware about their current cholesterol level or have had it checked by the doctor so they could be know how to control it.
What is cholesterol anyway? Is it important or even needed in our system? Cholesterol is a type of fat that can be found in all the cells in our body. It actually makes the outer layer of our body cells. As a matter of fact, cholesterol is an important part of progesterone, testosterone, and oestrogen which are needed in order for these vital hormones to perform better.
There are two types of cholesterol namely: LDL or Low density lipoprotein cholesterol and HDL or High density lipoprotein cholesterol. The former is more commonly known as the bad cholesterol, when its levels are high it can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries which will increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The latter is known as the good cholesterol. It functions by transporting excess cholesterol from your blood into your liver, where it is removed from our system.
It is essential to know the sources of cholesterol as well before we could be able to tackle controlling our cholesterol levels. These are:
- Dietary cholesterol- meaning cholesterol coming from the food that we eat. Examples of are liver, prawns, eggs, and kidney. Others such as saturated fats and trans fats make your bad cholesterol levels skyrocket such as meat, butter, pastries, cream, cheese, cakes, and biscuits.
- Cholesterol that is produced by our body.
Checking you lifestyle is one way of not just being aware on how to lower cholesterol levels. You get increased risk of stroke and heart diseases due to smoking, excessive drinking and high blood pressure. You may consider changing your lifestyle to a healthier one if you have to lessen the risk of heart problems.
There are different methods to lower you cholesterol. One is through the natural way and the other is through the synthetic or by medication. These are the natural methods:
- Do regular exercises – at least 30 minutes of healthy physical activity has been proven to increase the good cholesterol and at the same time lower bad cholesterol.
- Lose weight – being overweight or obese means you have the tendency to have high levels of cholesterol. With the aid of your doctor or herbal supplements you can successfully shed off unwanted pounds.
- Eat healthy – being able to identify the foods that lower and raise cholesterol is a must if you want to have a healthy diet. Coordinate closely with your dietician to find out which ones you and you should not eat.
- Eliminate caffeine and alcohol from the equation – it has been shown that these two are culprits in elevating cholesterol. Drinking pure water is the best way to go.
- Live a stress-free life as much as possible – studies have shown connection with the two. Learn to balance your lifestyle. Take time off if need be.
You can learn more on how to lower cholesterol levels by searching the internet and consulting your physician for a better life.
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Related article: Diet Lower Cholesterol – What Are The Types Of Foods That Reduce Cholesterol Levels
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