Having high LDL cholesterol can be scary. By having it, an individual is at a significantly higher risk for heart disease compared to someone with “good” cholesterol levels.
If you are looking to lower LDL cholesterol, don’t worry. It’s not an impossible task. There are a few lifestyle changes to make, but once you do that, you’ll be on track to a better, healthier life.
Are you ready for that? Follow these five steps to lower LDL cholesterol.
Lowering LDL Cholesterol – Where Should You Start?
1. Get Rid of Trans Fats
If you’re looking for a place to start when trying to lower LDL cholesterol, banning the consumption of trans fats is a great way to start. Why? Because trans fats increase levels of LDL cholesterol while lowering your levels of HDL cholesterol. For those who don’t know, HDL is defined as the “good” cholesterol, while LDL is the “bad” cholesterol.
The best way to avoid consuming trans fats is to read the ingredient labels while grocery shopping. Keep in mind that if you see “partially hydrogenated oil,” that means trans fat, the grocery vendors are just trying to deceive you.
2. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
One of the best ways to lower LDL cholesterol is by exercising. Specifically, exercising roughly 2 1/2 hours a week is a substantial amount of time for increasing HDL, improving LDL levels.
Remember to start off low if you’ve been inactive for a while.
3. Incorporate Fish into Your Diet
This is key when trying to lower LDL cholesterol levels. By eating fish two to four times a week, you are lowering your cholesterol levels because it slashes your exposure to various saturated fats. These kinds of fats are often found in red meat, so it’s best just to scratch red meat as a whole if you want to lower LDL cholesterol levels.
4. Relax!
This might seem a little arbitrary, but don’t worry, there’s a reason it’s on this list.
If you are stressed, your cholesterol shoots through the roof. Did you know that? Not a lot of people do. The best thing to do is chill out, perhaps get lost in a book or meet up with your friends. Or, if you want to kill two birds with one stop, relax by exercising!
By simply relaxing, your cholesterol levels will be in check, thus helping to lower LDL cholesterol.
5. Throw the Cigarettes and Cigars Away
Breaking a habit can be tough. In the long-run, though, it’s always worth it. One way to lower LDL cholesterol is to quit smoking. Why? Because, according to various medical studies, smoking increases LDL cholesterol, while lowering HDL cholesterol.
Which step on this list do you think will be the easiest to incorporate into your lifestyle?
Featured Image: DepositPhotos/udra
Posted on May 5, 2023