It's very important to learn what Cholesterol is because it can be good or bad. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in animal fats, whole milk, yolk of the egg, liver and kidney. It is also manufactured by your liver. Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol is vital for health and is a component of most body tissues, including the brain, nervous system, liver and blood. However, it is carried by lipoproteins as solid fat in our blood and it leads to clogged arteries causing strokes and heart attacks.
There are two types of cholesterol. HDL (high-density lipoproteins) cholesterol is called "good" cholesterol because it helps remove the "bad" LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol from the blood. LDL cholesterol is the type that sticks to the artery walls and causes cardiovascular problems.
You can lower the risk of heart related ailments and other health hazards by simply regulating your cholesterol level. It's important to check the risk factors, which can build up your cholesterol level as it should be kept in the healthy limits. People who are at no risk of coronary heart disease have their total cholesterol levels in 150 to 160 mg/dl and a LDL cholesterol levels below 80 mg/dl.
A healthy diet low in saturated fat and rich in soy protein helps lower cholesterol and may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Some healthy eating tips to help lower your cholesterol:-
Don't fry your food - try other ways of cooking your food; eg boil, steam, grill, poach.
Choose lean meat and cut the fat off poultry, cook in either sunflower oil or olive oil.
Ensure that you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, at least 5 portions a day.
It has been found that soluble fibre, which can be found in oats, barley, lentils and other pulses, has the advantage of being able to absorb bile acids which are rich in cholesterol.
Cut down on your fat intake by choosing low-fat or fat-free foods.
Salmon is a high source of Omega 3 oils which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol.
A regular course of exercise is also important for lowering your cholesterol levels. Swimming, running, tennis, aerobics and dancing help to strengthen the heart, get the blood pumping and helps towards healthy cholesterol levels. Experts recommend a minimum of 30 minutes a day. If you can't manage that then do what you can. Start on 15 minutes and then build up, try to exercise at the same time every day, it will then become part of your daily routine.
Remember:- You need a certain amount of cholesterol to live, not all cholesterol is bad for you.. Know your numbers: less than 200 mg/dl total cholesterol is considered desirable, 200-239 borderline high, and 240 or more is high. If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dl, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors.
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