How To Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally And Keep It Low

It's important that before you try lowering cholesterol you should learn as much as possible about how it works and how to naturally lower cholesterol.

Cholesterol: What is it? Cholesterol is found in the fats called lupids of your blood, a waxy-like substance, your body needs to function properly and stay healthy. Of course, as with just about everything in this life, too much of a good thing can soon morph into a bad thing. And so it is with cholesterol. But if your body did not have it, you couldn't survive. Below is just a small list of the amazing ways cholesterol goes to work for you every day, keeping you healthy!

The Small List...

Directs the development of certain cells in a growing fetus.
Is a portion of the membranes that protect each and every cell in your body.
Is found in plentiful supply in your brain, which is composed mostly of fatty tissue. (Who knew?)
Helps to create hormones, including testosterone and the adrenal hormone, cortisone.
Is found in digestive juices, like bile.
Is needed for the creation of vitamin D, manufactured when sun activates the fatty tissues just under your skin.
Helps to build synapse, the vital structures through which your nerve cells send messages.

Many foods ingested contain cholesterol especially foods that come from animals. Red meats, eggs, whole fat dairy product like cheese, milk, and ice cream (my favorite). Foods such as vegetables, fruits and grains have no cholesterol and are some of the many foods which lower cholesterol when combined with moderate exercise (don't groan guys) and better eating habits. (You notice I didn't mention diet)

The Lipoprotiens-The Good - The Bad: There are two types. The (HDL) known as high-density lipoproteins and (LDL) low-density lipoproteins. The HDL is the good and the LDL is the bad. It can be confusing so here's an easy way to remember which is which. The LDL starts with "L" for lousy and the HDL starts with "H" for healthy.

The LDL: Why is it so lousy for your body? Having too much LDL causes a thick hard deposit called plaque to build up in the wall of the arteries which restricts blood flow to the heart. This build up can lead to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Hardening of the arteries can also affect the coronary arteries. These are the arteries that carry the blood to the heart. When these vessels become clogged or restricted with plaque it's called coronary artery disease. There is also a chest pain called angina caused by the plaque build-up which restricts the oxygen-carrying blood to the heart.

Now keep in mind that other vital organs like kidneys and intestines can be damaged if the blood flow is restricted because of hardening of the arteries.

The Risk of Stroke: When the vessels that supply blood to the brain are affected by hardening of the arteries this condition is called cerebral vascular disease and puts an individual at risk of having a stroke.

HDL The Good Cholesterol: By removing cholesterol particles from the blood and tissues HDL helps the body rid itself of the bad cholesterol which is carried back to the liver where the particles can be processed and sent out of the body. The higher the HDL level, the lower the risk of heart disease.

Are You At Risk? Your Life Style, Eating Habits and Lack of Exercise contributes to some individuals having a greater risk for developing heart disease than others. Some factors are beyond our control but others are within our ability to handle.

Being overweight for example, the risk is increased of developing higher levels of high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and other serious health problems such as diabetes. Eating habits and exercise are areas which we have control and the good part is losing weight can help increase the HDL (good) cholesterol level, decrease the LDL (bad) level and help reduce the chances of heart related diseases.

Family History and Age are two factors we can't control. The odds are if family members have high cholesterol levels (in the genes) then our chances of having problems have increased. Ageing is a normal course in life. As we get older the greater the chances cholesterol levels will elevate.

Healthy Foods and Regular Exercise may work as well to naturally lower cholesterol as some cholesterol-lowering medications.

Before taking any supplement or starting any exercise program seek expert advice of your own personal physician or another licensed health care physician to determine medical risk factors and cholesterol levels.

Daisy Wolfe is an online researcher and publisher providing Information and Advice on how you can lower your cholesterol naturally and keep it low with the kinds of food that you eat and through changes in your lifestyle.

For further information and your FREE Mini-Course (10 Cholesterol-Busting Secrets) visit howtolowercholesterolcenter.com How To Lower Cholesterol Center