How to Lower Your Cholesterol
If you have a family history of high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia and need to reduce it before you develop health problems there are some ways to do so quickly. First you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine your level. If your fasting total cholesterol exceeds 200 or your low-density cholesterol is above 100 there is no reason to be alarmed, just start taking steps to reduce your level now. With a few modifications to a diet and following a doctor’s advice, most people can learn how to lower cholesterol rather quickly.
In order to reduce your cholesterol you will need to determine your risk factors. A family history of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking can play a role with your cholesterol level. Now that you have discovered that your levels are higher than the average person you can begin to take steps to lowering your cholesterol.
The first steps are obvious. If you are overweight, start a diet. If you smoke, quit. Taking charge of things you have control over will help in determining if there is a problem beyond the ones self-inflicted. Sometimes dieting and quitting bad habits will not be enough. If this is the case for you, your doctor can prescribe medication in addition to modifying your diet. These are important steps in considering how to lower your cholesterol.
In earlier years doctors advised against the consumption of eggs. In recent years, however, with additional research, doctors have determined that saturated fats are part of the problem. Reducing the amount of saturated fats you take in will significantly help with your efforts in lowering your cholesterol level. A diet fueled by fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish and whole grains, will give you every chance at success when thinking of how to lower cholesterol. Substitute canola oil or olive oil in place of vegetable oil, butter and shortening. Increase your amounts of fish, while reducing your consumption of red meat. Soluble fiber, another needed source, acts like a sponge in the digestive tract. Foods containing soluble fiber include dried beans, oats and barley. In addition, fish and fish oil supplements are a great source for lowering your cholesterol. Omega 3 found in fish has been tried and tested and gets an approval so consider replacing your soda and juice with green tea. Green tea has become one of the decade’s unlocked secrets. We already know about how good green tea is for our bodies, but did you know in some studies it actually reduced cholesterol by nearly 5%, on its own. These are good ways to learn how to lower cholesterol.
Of course dieting alone will not reduce the cholesterol enough by itself, but it is a great start. In order to begin how to lower cholesterol, physical activity is also needed. Set aside a time at least three times a week for 45 minutes to an hour in which you can commit to some form of physical activity. Watching a sports program on television does not count. Find something you enjoy. Take a brisk walk, join a gym with a friend, bike riding, swimming, the possibilities are endless. At the end of the day not only will you naturally reduce your cholesterol levels, but you will feel better knowing your body is getting in shape. The information may seem overwhelming, but the truth is these are all great lessons on how to lower cholesterol.