What exactly is cholesterol? Well, it is a fatty substance that keeps on circulating in your blood. Some of this substance is produced inside your body, and the rest comes from the food you eat. It is generally good to have cholesterol in your body as it makes hormones and builds healthy cells. But as they say, excess of anything is harmful to the body, the same way excess of it can collect inside the arteries, stopping the easy flow of blood, which increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Cholesterol can be classified into two types, and the type you should be worried about is Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is considered unhealthy as it makes clusters in the arteries. If you have high LDL levels, you surely need to manage them to prevent serious heart diseases. Let’s check out the best ways or lifestyle changes that can improve your cholesterol. Before we begin, you should know that if your condition is not improving even after a lifestyle change, you can look for cholesterol-lowering medications online after being prescribed.
Adapt a Heart-healthy Diet
Managing your diet well can help a lot in lowering cholesterol levels. Reduce the intake of trans fat and unsaturated fat like red meat and dairy products. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, herring, walnuts, mackerel, and flaxseeds. Emphasize more and more on fruits, green vegetables, poultry, whole grains, etc. Always check for the cholesterol content while eating food outside.
Once you quit smoking, it improves your HDL cholesterol level, which is healthy for your heart. The blood circulation and lung function begin to improve in months, and there are many more benefits of saying NO to smoking. The risk of heart diseases becomes half, and blood pressure, heart rate gets under control.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation
The ones drinking alcohol within a limit have been linked with HDL (high-density lipoproteins) levels. However, the benefits are not strong enough to recommend drinking alcohol. So, if you do not drink alcohol, stick to it. But if you do drink, going with one drink every day is fine.
You are overweight results in a decrease of good cholesterol and an increase of bad cholesterol. Even a weight loss of 5-10% can help in stabilizing your cholesterol levels. Switch to tap water if you drink a lot of sugary beverages. Keep track of calories and improve your diet. Try to incorporate more activities in your daily routine to shred off some extra calories.
Become More Physically Active
Exercise and physical activities can increase HDL cholesterol which is good for health and also aids in eliminating the bad cholesterol. Try to work out 30 minutes daily in the gym or at your home. You can also indulge in running activities or sports or riding bicycles, etc.
Word of advice
You can join an exercise group to stay motivated. These are the healthy lifestyle changes that can make a big difference in your cholesterol management journey. However, sometimes these are not enough, and you might need to go for cholesterol-lowering medicines. Consult your doctor for medication and treatment. If prescribed, you can buy cholesterol tablets online at reasonable prices.