5 ways to lower high cholesterol?

Answer 1

1) Eat more healthful. It's not just about what you eat, but its about eating proportionally. Remember- everything in moderation. Start by eating more fruits, vegetables, grains and avoid fatty foods like baking goods or the greasy foods at fast food restaurants. It is also better to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day (this doesn't mean regular size meals you would normally have three times a day) since you eat less fat and keep the calories and portions under control. Depending on how active you are, figure out what your daily caloric intake is and divide by six to see how many calories each meal should contain. Remember to keep them small (this is also a great way to lose weight). It's that easy!

2) Make sure you exercise daily, at least thirty minutes a day to keep your cholesterol lower. If you can't do thirty minutes a day, take baby steps and start out with five minutes a day, then build up. Try to do something that is fun, though, so you don't get tired of the same routine (unless you like running the same route every day). Find something that you can enjoy doing everyday, maybe join a sport or get a workout buddy- that way you feel motivated to stay on track to a healthier heart.

3) Back to the foods- eat the right foods that are proven to lower cholesterol. Some good examples are oatmeal, cheerios (anything with whole grains), even almonds. Nowadays, some foods have cholesterol fighting additives like in Orange Juice (Minute Maid's Heartwise) and yes- even margarine. When cooking, substitute olive oil instead of butter or cooking oil. You can also add avocados to your salads since both olive oil and avocados contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (the good kind) that lower bad cholesterol. Now eating healthy doesn't sound so bad, does it?

4) With all of this in mind, make sure your checking the labels. When looking at the label, watch for words like saturated and trans fats since these are the culprits that are to blame for bad cholesterol. If your looking under the ingredients, avoid foods with the words hydrogenated oil or partially hydrogenated oil. Instead, search for the word unhydrogenated oil. Avoid eating the foods that you know are bad for you, especially the obvious, like donuts, cookies, and cake. But also keep an eye out for other more common foods, like crackers and chips (Cheez-its) since they contain sneaky fats that contain saturated fats. For more info and tips, check out this website on the different types of fats:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532

5) Lastly, check out this website for more ideas on how to get rid of bad cholesterol:

http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/10-ways-to-lower-cholesterol/article/33b872e50d803110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/

If you still have trouble lowering your cholesterol, see your doctor. He/She may need to prescribe medicine to help with lowering your cholesterol safely.

To keep sane, remember to keeps your 5-6 meals a day proportional. That way, you can still enjoy some of the foods that aren't as good for your heart. It's okay to have a cookie once and a while, just as long as you don't down the whole bag in one day.

I hope this helped :)