If there is excess cholesterol in your blood, it starts to build up in the walls of your arteries. As more and more cholesterol starts to build up, your arteries will become narrowed. This will have a negative effect on the speed of your blood flow to the heart.
It may even cause your blood flow to be blocked. When your blood flow is slowed down, a sufficient amount of blood and oxygen won’t be able to reach your heart, which can create some serious health problems.
High blood cholesterol levels are primarily associated with increasing the risk of suffering from heart disease. The higher your blood cholesterol levels are, the more likely you’re to develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack.
Considering that heart attacks are responsible for killing millions of people every year, you should definitely pay more attention to your blood cholesterol levels. The good news is that you can have a great effect on your cholesterol levels simply by changing some of your habits. Here are some of the best lifestyle choices you can make to lower your blood cholesterol.
It’s important to note that there’s a huge difference between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol. LDL is considered to be bad cholesterol because it to plaque, which can clog your arteries and reduce their flexibility.
Clogged arteries can lead to serious medical problems, such as stroke or heart attack. The HDL actually helps remove the bad cholesterol from your arteries. It basically acts as a scavenger, and carries the bad cholesterol from your arteries to your liver, where it gets broken down and passed from your body.
Start Exercising
People who live a mostly sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop heart disease than two who exercise regularly. Working out will help improve your health by lowering your bad cholesterol and increasing your good cholesterol levels. Know that you don’t need to sacrifice a lot of your time in order to keep your cholesterol in check. Simply by exercising 30 minutes a few days a week, you’ll ensure that you’ll have healthy cholesterol levels.
Quit Smoking
If you’re a smoker, then you should try to break the habit as soon as possible. Cigarettes are known for causing numerous health problems, including decreased good cholesterol levels. If you don’t have healthy HDL cholesterol levels, you’re more likely to experience heart disease and clogged arteries.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being overweight is linked to high cholesterol levels. Simply by reducing your body weight 5-10%, you can significantly lower your LDL cholesterol levels. The best way to maintain a healthy weight is to alter your diet and start exercising. Sometimes, all you need to do to shed a few excess pounds is to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats.
Increase Your Fiber Intake
By eating foods that are high in soluble fiber, you will feel fuller for extended time periods. These foods will prevent you from overeating. Some of the best fiber-rich foods include pears, oatmeal, prunes, apples, and kidney beans.
Cook Healthier
Using the wrong cooking methods can make your meals very unhealthy. For example, instead of using too much butter or oil when preparing a meal, make sure to use cooking spray just to lightly coat your pan before you start to prepare your food. However, an even better option would be to start baking, steaming, grilling, broiling, or boiling your favorite foods more often.
Drink A Little Red Wine
Red wine contains certain antioxidants that are able to protect the lining of your blood vessels from becoming blocked as a result of high cholesterol. However, remember that wine should be consumed in moderation. Water is best.
Be well
