How to Lower Cholesterol Levels.

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels.

I’m here right now to share with you how to lower Cholesterol levels naturally. Maybe you are like me. My recent trip to the doctor saw ‘the look’on her face as she told me my cholesterol levels had risen. I had taken myself off medication after the negative effects of recent medication.  The aches and pains were keeping me awake some nights.

I promised myself I would behave, exercise and eat healthily. However, after such a cold, wet winter, I found my diet was far from what it should have been. I try to walk each day. I love it, but time gets away and some days I don’t.  As a Baby Boomer, I’m not as agile as I used to be.

So, I’m back on the tablets while I get myself sorted with correct eating practices.Gosh, I need to lose weight for the summer ahead!!!
Although you may have received a diagnosis of high cholesterol, it doesn’t mean that you’ll definitely have a heart attack or stroke. However, it does mean that you’re more ‘at risk’ for these serious health problems and you should take every step you can to work put how to lower cholesterol levels.

Your doctor may prescribe a medication and advise that you quit smoking and other unhealthy habits, but you might also want to look at a healthy diet plan that’s specifically designed to show how to lower cholesterol levels.

LDL is the bad cholesterol that can put you at risk for health problems. If you receive a reading of 130 mg/dL to 190 mg/dL, your risk factor for heart disease and stroke is high and you should begin an immediate diet plan that excludes foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat and avoid trans fats altogether.

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels- Correct Diet.

· Cooking – Rather than cooking with high fat shortenings and oils, use canola, olive and plant-based oils  rich in unsaturated fats.
Use vinaigrette dressings on your salads made with a base of olive oil.

· Omega-3 fatty acids – Include a source of omega-3 fatty acids in your daily diet plan. Foods like certain nuts, fish and oils contain omega-3 fatty acids.

· Lean meat and low-fat dairy products – Choose from the leanest of meats and stay away from those high in fat, such as pork, beef and lamb. Drink low fat milk and eat reduced or low fat cheeses.

· Margarine – If you’re currently using butter, change to margarine – preferably soft, tub margarine. Choose margarine with zero grams of trans fats, but look at the ingredients carefully to be sure it doesn’t include partially hydrogenated oils.

These days, though, people are undecided as new research reveals butter is not as bad as once thought. Personal preference, I feel.

Here is an interesting site that compares butter with margarine.

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels – Shop Carefully.

When shopping for food, take the time to read the labels carefully and never purchase products that contain trans fats. These are one of the most destructive things you can eat if you have high cholesterol.

When eating out, avoid fast foods that may be fried in dangerous oils that contain trans fats and also avoid breads and pastries unless you know they’ve been cooked with the proper ingredients.

How to Lower Cholesterol  Levels – Have Regular Blood Tests.

High cholesterol is said to be “a silent killer” because it has no symptoms. The only way to find out what your cholesterol levels are is to take a blood test. If you’re at high risk because of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about getting this life-saving test. I have a blood test every 6 months for cholesterol.

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels – Exercise Regularly.

Other high-risk factors include lack of exercise and obesity. In today’s world, with everyone operating at the speed of lightning, it is so easy to buy convenience food and sit on the couch, exhausted, at the end of the day. Of course this leads to massive weight gain.

There are so many forms of exercise  available. You don’t need to buy expensive Gym Memberships. Walking, swimming, jogging, dancing, playing sport – anything will do, as long as you move for at least 30 minutes a day.if you can’t get motivated by yourself, organise a partner to exercise with you.

The above article is only a general overview of how to lower cholesterol levels. They are things that can be done on a daily basis. If you get into the habit, then it will become automatic after a while.

In order to live a healthy lifestyle, free of unexpected risks such as stroke or heart-attack, this healthy eating and exercise outline is a necessary step in how to lower cholesterol levels for all.
If you have gained anything from my article on how to lower cholesterol levels, please feel free to share and leave a comment.

photo credit: Sean Munson via photopin cc