How to Lower Cholesterol
There are many things that they can do to improve their health. One of the most important is lowering cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels mean they have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is among the leading causes of death in the world. In this blog post, Jordan Sudberg will discuss how to lower cholesterol.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat found in the bloodstream and all the body’s cells. There are different types of cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which contributes to plaque buildup; HDL (high-density lipoprotein) that takes away extra cholesterol. And triglycerides also contribute to plaque build ups.
The body needs cholesterol to function, but too much of it can be harmful. When they have too much bad cholesterol in their blood, it can cause a buildup of plaque on the walls of their arteries. This can make it hard for their heart to pump blood through their body and increase their risk of heart attack or stroke.
How Can They Lower Their Cholesterol Levels?
There are many things they can do to lower their cholesterol levels, including:
Stop smoking
This is one of the most important things to prevent heart disease. If they stop smoking, it will not only lower their cholesterol but improve overall health and help them stay fit. Smoking can cause plaque buildup on the artery walls because it impairs blood flow through arteries.
Exercise
Being active is suitable for people in general, but even more so if they have high cholesterol. Exercise can speed up their metabolism to burn fat and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. It helps clear excess LDL from the body and increases HDL levels which carry bad cholesterol away from arteries so it cannot cause a buildup of plaque on artery walls.
Eat better
Many foods help lower cholesterol levels. Two of the biggest culprits of high cholesterol levels are saturated fat and trans fat. Trans fat is found in commercially baked goods and some snack foods, while saturated fats can be found in fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products. They should choose lean meats with less than 3 grams per serving and trim off excess fat. They should also look for low-fat dairy products, especially cottage cheese, skim milk, and yogurt, since they are high in calcium which helps them excrete fatty acids from their body.
Cut back on alcohol.
Drinking too much alcohol can raise the level of bad cholesterol. The liver metabolizes alcohol in the same way it metabolizes fat, which causes fatty deposits to accumulate in the liver. This can lead to sickle cell disease and high cholesterol. It also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke because alcohol causes blood vessels to relax and expand temporarily, but it causes them to narrow and harden over time.
Reduce body weight
Being overweight also increases the risk of developing heart disease. Excess weight can lead to high cholesterol levels because it puts stress on the body and causes it to produce more LDL, which contributes to plaque buildup in arteries.
According to Jordan Sudberg, there are many ways they can lower their cholesterol levels. Some of the most important include stopping smoking, exercising, eating better, and reducing body weight. These measures will help improve their overall health and reduce their risk for heart disease.