Managing Cholesterol at Home Grand Rapids MI
Managing Cholesterol at Home
Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that you’re among the 17 percent of Americans over the age 20 whose total cholesterol has been clocked at or above 240 milligrams per deciliter, you need to make a plan as to how you’re going to reverse this number and put a stop to the heart disease that is now encroaching upon your arteries with clogging plaque.
The good news is that studies have shown that a 1 percent reduction in total cholesterol can result in a 2 to 3 percent decrease in the likelihood of heart disease. One of the prime components of your cholesterol-lowering blueprint should be making your home a place that promotes the reduction of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and the accrual of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol. These following tips will help you strike a cholesterol balance on the home front:
Go vegetarian.
Well, you don’t have to completely swear off meat, but if you pull back considerably on the animal products, you’ll see a corresponding reduction in your triglyceride and LDL levels. Meat and diary products provide the only outside source of cholesterol, and they also contain a palpable amount of saturated fat, too much of which can cause your overall cholesterol level to spike.
Invest in aerobic and strength-training equipment.
Exercise has been shown to raise HDL and lower LDL and triglycerides by as much as 40 percent. And research has determined that strength-training and aerobic activity are particularly effective in keeping your cholesterol levels in check. Engaging in moderately strenuous activity at least 30 minutes every day is especially important if you’re overweight, since reaching and maintaining the right body mass index will keep your cholesterol level where it needs to be...
