Americans, as a whole, suffer from a lot of health problems. However, one could say that the root cause of all of those problems is the fact that so many Americans are overweight. Regardless of why a person suffers from high cholesterol, the important thing is to keep those levels under control so that they dont cause further problems down the road. Here are 4 easy ways that a person can keep their cholesterol in check so that they have a reduced risk of heart disease.
Proper Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is key to keeping cholesterol down. And despite what many people think, it is easy to do, and it wont break the bank. Skip the red meat and opt for something leaner like chicken or fish. Fill up the belly with fresh fruits and vegetables (even the frozen ones are just as healthy as long as there is no added salt). And top it all off with some whole grains.
Adequate Exercise
Did you know that the fittest state in the country is California? Californians, on average, get about 84 minutes of exercise per week. Thats a mere 12 minutes per day, and they are the FITTEST! You can buck that trend by exercising for 15 minutes per day, and it wont even interrupt your schedule. After breakfast, walk around the block and you have half your exercise done. Walk around 2 blocks after dinner and you are now pushing 20 minutes.
Proper Lifestyle
There are some lifestyle habits that put a person at risk of having higher cholesterol. Namely, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Both of these habits are known to raise the levels of HDL cholesterol (that is the bad cholesterol) in the blood. That is not to say that you can NEVER partake, but keep in mind that you need a good balance in life.
Prescription Drugs
Some people simply cannot control their cholesterol naturally. They have to rely on prescription medication to do so. The most popular drug is a statin drug because they work remarkably well. The downside, of course, is that these drugs have some very serious side effects and should only be used as a last resort.
If you suffer from high cholesterol know two things: you are not alone, and you can control your cholesterol. Make a few changes in your lifestyle and you will likely see your levels drop down to something that is manageable without prescription medication.
