Exercise and Cholesterol

We've all heard that getting active and breaking a light sweat can help to improve our cholesterol numbers, but how does exercise help to improve cholesterol levels? What kind of exercise do we need to do? How often do we need to exercise? How hard do we need to work? Reasonable questions one and all. Let's take a look at exercise and cholesterol and see if we can make sense out of any of this.

Regular physical activity can help improve your cholesterol levels by helping to raise your HDL (high density lipoproteins) which is often referred to as the "good" cholesterol because high density lipoproteins helps to remove plaque from the walls of the arteries allowing blood to flow freely. Regular physical activity also helps to lower triglyceride levels.

Triglycerides are lipids found in your blood which is used for energy. You need some triglycerides to maintain good health, but too much of a good thing can raise your risk of developing high cholesterol and heart disease.

Unfortunately, numerous studies show that exercise itself, does not help to lower LDL (low density lipoproteins), often referred to as the "bad" cholesterol because it can contribute to the formation of plaque build-up on the walls of the arteries causing a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the walls of the arteries due to plaque build-up. However, regular exercise along with a nutritious, heart healthy diet can help you to lose excess fat which does help to lower you low density lipoprotein levels.

The most important thing with exercise is to make sure it is effective while making sure you don't get bored. A well rounded fitness routine should include aerobic activity, resistance activity as well as flexibility and relaxation activities.

What you ultimately want to do is to get a total of 30 minutes of exercise a day. This could be a 30 minute swim, or three 10 minute walks or one 10 minute walk, one 10 minute swim and 10 minutes cleaning the house. Now if you are seriously deconditioned, just making it to the corner could cause you to gasp for air so you need to be very aware of what your body is telling you. If you need to slow your activity down, then slow it down, believe me if you stay consistent the improvements in your physical capacity will come. To start I would suggest getting your total of 30 minutes of exercise in every other day. Once you are able to do 30 minutes of continuous exercise I suggest adding another activity day to your schedule. Remember, do a variety of activities.

The most important thing is to just get out there and get started. Exercise should be combined with a nutritious heart healthy balanced diet. Combining physical activity and good nutrition can help you avoid cholesterol lowering drugs or get you off of these drugs if you are already taking them. Work in conjunction with your physician to come up with the best plan of attack to reduce your risk of developing this disease or to help you eliminate the disease if you already have high blood pressure.

Good luck and happy fitness!

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