Is Yours Normal? Five Ways to Reduce Cholesterol Levels

Do you really want to lower your LDL cholesterol? Trying to figure out how to treat high cholesterol? Wondering what foods lower cholesterol? Cholesterol itself is not as bad as the media will convey, but certainly high levels will easily contribute to heart disease and other health problems. This article will give you a head start and provide five easy ways to lower your cholesterol fast.

There are different ways to measure levels to help manage cholesterol levels such as total blood cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. HDL cholesterol is “good” cholesterol, meaning you want higher levels of this type of cholesterol, whereas LDL cholesterol is considered “bad” cholesterol and high levels are detrimental to your health. The cause of HDL cholesterol levels that are low could be multi factorial. It may include medications, diet, physical activity, or even genetics.

So do you have normal cholesterol levels? Total cholesterol level should be five millimoles per liter, LDL levels should be three millimoles per liter, and HDL levels should be above one millimole per liter. Check out this cholesterol level chart for more details and keep reading for the five ways to reduce your cholesterol levels.

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1. Drink More Distilled or Spring Water

When we often times think of water, we understand that it is a highly essential part of our lives. Without enough of it, bodily organs cannot function properly and suffer health consequences. The issue, with a concentration on cholesterol, is that without enough water daily your body is not able to flush itself and get rid of excess cholesterol. The one type of water to stay away from drinking is tap. Spring and distilled are by far the best for health reasons. They lack the harmful inorganic materials which frequent tap water systems. You can easily pick up a gallon of distilled or spring water from your nearest grocery store at a cheap price.

The one type of water to stay away from drinking is tap. Spring and distilled are by far the best for health reasons. They lack the harmful inorganic materials which frequent tap water systems. You can easily pick up a gallon of distilled or spring water from your nearest grocery store at a cheap price.

2. Think About Medications From Your Doctor

Medical doctors get asked many questions concerning medications that help to reduce cholesterol levels. The one thing they tend to tell their patients is that they should not always focus on pharmaceuticals for health. Those drugs will, in fact, lower cholesterol over time, but they also have various effects on your body. Admittedly, there are certain prescription drugs which can be used and others which are over the counter at local pharmacies. Be sure to explain every detail to your doctor so they can medicate you accordingly.

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3. Increase Your Physical Activities Outdoors

Daily exercise is well known to help keep our bodies in shape and functioning properly. It is best for you to get at least 30 to 40 minutes each day preferably outdoors. The reasoning behind the outdoors approach is that you get your sunlight vitamin D as well as fresh air in your lungs. High cholesterol levels will harm your heart, so it is good to exercise to keep the heart and lungs strong. Some people understandably cannot handle hard exercises, so the best thing for them would be slower low-impact activities such as swimming or a basic walk.

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4. Eat More Tasty Oatmeal With Fruit

Finally, here is your answer to what foods you can eat to lower LDL cholesterol. Recently there have been commercials focusing on oatmeal as a means to lower LDL cholesterol, and the answer surrounds soluble fiber. What this does is slow down the absorption of LDL (low-density lipoproteins) into your body. Traditionally LDL is considered bad cholesterol. Do not forget that fruits contain water and are great when added to oatmeal. Think of this as a tag team working to fight your high cholesterol levels. Fruit like apples, pears, or prunes are particularly fibrous. Try your best to avoid high cholesterol food, but also take a moment out of your day to find some a recipe to lower cholesterol, by containing low cholesterol food and/or containing food that is high in fiber!

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5. Drink Black Coffee As Opposed To Cream And Sugar

Many people have the same coffee routine each day before work or just to jump start their day. Plenty end up adding high levels of sugar and cream for sweetening, but it’s these coffee creamers that are the main culprits adding to your cholesterol. They contain cholesterol in small dosages, but many people simply add too much to a small cup of coffee. It would be best to try black coffee or even a flavored brand without the added cream and sugar.

These are just a few simple tips to help you cut your cholesterol fast over time. Keep in mind that your body does create a certain level of natural cholesterol for bodily functions. It would be best for you to examine your specific situation and talk to a health professional. Some people love to research and utilize natural methods while others frequent the doctor’s office with many concerns. However you feel about this topic, make sure you do everything possible to maintain a healthy balance to your life.

 

Sourced from: mayoclinic.org

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