High Cholesterol Doesn’t Have To Be A Permanent Condition
It’s estimated that at least half of all Americans have either high or borderline cholesterol levels. These elevated levels will put you at a much higher risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.
Cholesterol is naturally produced within the liver. It creates some types of hormones, forms cell membranes and helps in the body’s digestion of fats. All of the body’s cells contain cholesterol as well as the bloodstream, brain, muscles, nerves and skin.
On top of the cholesterol that is naturally produced in the body, we consume additional amounts in many of the foods we eat. Other factors that can play a role in high cholesterol are age, weight, heredity and even stress.
Our bodies naturally contain two types of cholesterol, HDL is called the good cholesterol, while LDL is bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is taken back to the liver to be broken down by HDL, while LDL carries it away from the liver and into the bloodstream.
When we have excessive cholesterol in our bloodstreams, it begins to build up and harden on the artery wall which restricts the flow of blood to the heart and brain and puts us at greater risk of for heart attack and strokes.
If your cholesterol level is too high there are some things you can try to help lower it and reduce the risks associated with it. For many people following a diet low in cholesterol, getting exercise and reducing weight will be all that is required to lower the levels.
Simple changes in diet by adding some cholesterol fighting foods like fish, oats, whole grains, yogurt and eliminating a lot of saturated fats will often get your cholesterol levels back to normal.
The simple lifestyle changes that you can make won’t have much effect on your cholesterol if it is an inherited condition or your body has just begun to produce too much for some reason. In these cases the only alternative may be for your doctor to prescribe one or several medications.
There are other factors that increase the risks of heart attacks and strokes, but elevated cholesterol is one thing that you can actually have some control over. If you’ve been diagnosed with high or borderline cholesterol start making those basic changes that might extend your life by years!
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Tags: Fitness
