Lower LDL Cholesterol

Lower LDL Cholesterol:

1. Cholesterol Lowering Foods

Although studies have shown losing weight helps lower LDL, research also suggests that eating the right types of foods are very important. Foods that are low in saturated fat and high in soluble fiber have been found to be helpful in lowering LDL. Things like broccoli, apples, and peanuts contain plant sterols, which can help lower levels.

2. Exercise

Most people do not consider how important exercise is for lowering cholesterol. Weight training is not only good for losing weight and building muscle mass, but it also may help lower your cholesterol levels by targeting your “bad”, or LDL cholesterol. Aerobic exercises appear to benefit us the most by lowering LDL by 5% to 10%. Other forms of exercise, such as walking and pilates, also appear to decrease levels.

3. Take a Natural Cholesterol Lowering Supplement

There are many natural cholesterol supplements that may lower LDL cholesterol levels and also increase HDL or good cholesterol. The most attractive features of these supplements is that they can be much safer than prescription drugs, and as such can be a much better option.

4. Don’t Smoke or Breath any Second Hand Smoke

Stopping smoking can not only have a large impact on levels of HDL, it can also slightly lower LDL levels up to 5% . Smoking has also been linked to Oxidized LDL , which can contribute to atherosclerosis. Research has also shown that cholesterol levels, as well as oxidized forms of LDL, will decrease as soon as you stop smoking.

 
5. Drink Alcohol

A glass of wine or 2 daily can reduce the levels of LDL in your body by 4% to 8%, and also increase the levels of the good HDL. The good cholesterol is responsible for removing excess fat from the body. A typical serving of alcohol would be 1-12 oz. beer or 5 oz glass of wine. Studies also suggest that drinking more than three alcoholic drinks a day could actually increase cholesterol levels.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.