5 Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Dying of high cholesterol is not just something you get when you are older.  High cholesterol can strike in kids and adults. Learning how to lower your cholesterol and keep it down are your chances of living a longer life. Your family does not want to bury you before your time. Below we will discuss

Cholesterol is fat that surrounds every cell in your body, which can also lead to blocking your heart.  If you are over 20 years of age, you should get checked every five years. A doctor will let you know if you need to adjust your eating habits and give you a guide to eating right or what type of exercises you should begin doing to ensure a longer life. Your doctor is going to let you know what your cholesterol count is, 160 is a good number to target because it means you are low, anything above that means you are at risk.

Eat better

Eat more high-fiber foods such as oatmeal, bran, apples, kidney beans, prunes, Cheerios, etc.  Nuts are another excellent source to eat, but you must watch how many you snack on because they are high in calories, and you do not want to gain a bunch of weight. Get some high levels of Omega-3 in either such as fish oil. You can take the fish oil pills (if the doctor agrees) or make sure to have at least two servings of fish (Salmon, Mackerel, Halibut) a week that are high in omega-3. Try eating more fruits and vegetables.

Stop cooking in vegetable oil

If it is at all possible, stop cooking in vegetable oil and begin cooking with a light olive or canola oil. Both are much healthier for you and brings out the flavor in your foods.

Cut Back on the Fat

Instead of eating a bunch of fatty meat, try some lean beef. Watch out for the saturated fats found in meat or the trans fat, which is located in many of your store-bought snacks and even meat.

Quit Smoking

If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol, quitting, smoking will help but for your cholesterol and heart. Ask the doctor if there is anything he can give you to curb the need for nicotine. Alternatively, try weaning yourself off until you are off completely

Exercise

If it has been a while since you have exercised, now is the time to get back into it; after all, it just might save your life. Ask your doctor what he recommends if you have not been a regular in that area.  Try walking your dog or begin taking walks in your neighborhood or a park by yourself. Pick up a pedometer, and see how many steps you take in a day, try more steps each day.  Take up kickboxing, aerobics, racquetball, or a Zumba class at your local gym. Just remember this is all about making it a routine and staying healthy.