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Reducing LDL
When people hear that they need to lower their cholesterol, a common first instinct is to “stop eating and start exercising.” However, this tends to be a rather difficult approach to tackling this pervasive health threat. Of course the proper kind of regular exercise is critical to lowering cholesterol, but reducing food intake can be harmful to the body. In fact, continuing to eat can be a major part of the solution, as long as one is eating the proper foods.
There are two kinds of cholesterol: LDL and HDL. When one is trying to lower one’s cholesterol it usually means one is reducing LDL levels: Low Density Lipoprotein, or “bad cholesterol.” HDL on the other hand is High Density Lipoprotein, or “good cholesterol.” Different foods contain these different types of cholesterol. Then there are foods that can help lower LDL levels.
Such foods include oatmeal and other high fiber foods. Many nuts can also lower bad cholesterol as long as they aren’t coated with sugar or salt. Olive oil does double duty since it helps to lower bad cholesterol while also contributing to healthy HDL levels. To maintain the balance of cholesterol in the body, one should consume foods that are rich in HDL instead of those saturated with LDL. Seafood, citrus fruits, grains, and beans are all excellent sources of good cholesterol.
The second aspect of the regimen for lowering bad cholesterol is regular exercise. Ideally this exercising should be aerobic. This means cardiovascular exercises that increase heart and respiration rates for at least twenty minutes. Strength training will not be nearly as effective at lowering bad cholesterol. With these guiding principles in place, reducing LDL levels will be simple and straightforward.
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Eat to Get Healthy