With heart disease standing as one of the leading killers in the United States, it’s little surprise that lowering our cholesterol is a serious concern for Americans. While there are a high number of people in the US with high cholesterol, even those not presently diagnosed with it can benefit from taking some precautionary measures. High cholesterol levels are associated with high incidents of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. Don’t let high cholesterol cut your time with friends and family short; start taking steps to get it under control!
The Three Basic Steps To Keeping Your Cholesterol Low
While medication is available that can help keep your cholesterol under control, this should be considered a last resort and doesn’t take the place of healthy living. We know that making changes to your lifestyle can be challenging, but you can add years to your life with a little careful attention to your health. The following three steps are a good place to start.
Make Healthier Food Choices
This is easily the most effective step you can take in keeping your cholesterol down. If you aren’t consuming foods that are high in cholesterol, this is going to have a dramatic effect on your levels. The first thing to make yourself aware of is the importance of avoiding too many saturated fats. These are commonly found in milk, butter, cheese, and meat. While healthy for you in moderation, in excess, they spell trouble. While you’re at it, you should avoid trans fats entirely, such as those found in margarine, shortening, and various fast food and convenience items.
Keep Your Weight Down
After making healthier food choices keeping your weight to a healthy level is the next most effective step, especially in combination with a healthy diet. This step not only helps keep your high cholesterol under control but can do wonders for your overall health. Lowering your weight can reduce stress on your joints, keep high blood pressure at bay, and even lower your cholesterol as much as taking medication can. Be sure to keep yourself properly hydrated as well, as drinking water prior to a meal has been shown to help weight loss.
Increase Your Physical Activity
You knew this one was coming. It may become tiresome hearing about how exercise is the end-all-be-all of good health, and there are certain things that it can’t help with. What can’t be denied, however, is that an active lifestyle is a healthier lifestyle. You can start small, as even half an hour a day of activity can make an immense difference in your overall health, including your cholesterol levels. If you can maintain a regular 2 ½ hours of moderate activity a week, you’ll go a long way to battling high cholesterol.
Want to learn more ways you can promote your overall health? Make a phone call to Conroe Family Doctor and arrange an appointment with Dr. Trang D Nguyen today! Our team is proud to help patients in and around Conroe, TX, make lifestyle choices that promote long life, and keep cholesterol levels down!
