Cholesterol Lowering Foods

Must Have List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol

by: David Saunders

Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two ways; our liver produces cholesterol and we eat foods containing cholesterol. High amounts of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol that is bad for us, can lead to many health complications and significantly increase your risk of heart diseases.

5 Simple Steps To Lower Cholesterol

Frank Mangano

You can lower cholesterol without drugs by following some basic steps that will not only change your cholesterol readings, but also improve your health today and in the future. So often we use a prescription drug and hope it will magically cure whatever ails us. The truth is prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol do work. The problem is both the short term and long-term side effects.

Even more dangerous than the side effects of prescription drugs to lower cholesterol is not getting cholesterol under control. Over time, high cholesterol can lead to numerous conditions of the heart and arteries, not the least of which are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke or heart attack.

Here are 5 steps you can take today to lower your cholesterol without prescription drugs.

Eat right. May sound simple, but diet has such a significant impact on lowering cholesterol that it should be the number one factor you look at in determining if your high cholesterol is hereditary or a matter of dietary choices. A low fat and low cholesterol diet is the first step toward lowering cholesterol.

Exercise. Improving cardiovascular health is a step toward reversing the effects of high cholesterol. Exercise itself doesn't directly lower cholesterol, but will strengthen the heart and entire circulatory system.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, the plaque build up in the arteries due to high cholesterol is accelerated. When plaque blocks the flow of blood to the heart, the muscle has to work harder to get oxygen. This can lead to a heart attack. If the arteries get completely blocked with plaque from high cholesterol then a stroke can occur.

Relax. Chronic stress can affect cholesterol levels. If you are constantly stressed and eating a low cholesterol diet, you may not seen any improvement in cholesterol readings until you learn to relieve stress.

Talk to your doctor. Not all doctors are quick to prescribe medications. In fact, the more enlightened doctors will help you form a diet and exercise plan that is suitable for your current overall health and abilities as a first step toward lowering cholesterol. It is always important to ask your doctor if your decision to follow a specific diet or exercise plan is right for you. In addition, do not stop taking medications before consulting with your doctor. You can lower your cholesterol with diet and exercise, and under the care of your doctor, see about removing drugs from the process.

About the author:
Frank Mangano
It does not take long to see significant improvements in your cholesterol. Lower cholesterol can be yours in just a matter of weeks. If you would like to understand more about cholesterol, the prescriptions most often used to treat it, and what you can do to lower cholesterol naturally and without prescription drugs, visit one of the Internet's leading resources on cholesterol: http://www.60daystolowercholesterol.com

6 Risk Factors That Can Cause High Cholesterol
Matthew Keegan

We all know that high cholesterol is bad, that it can lead to heart disease, which can shorten your life. You may not understand the scientific reasons that can cause high cholesterol, but you do know that certain changes in your behavior can reduce elevated cholesterol levels. Researchers have identified six risk factors that can cause high cholesterol. Let’s take a look at what you can do to lower your risk!

Your Weight: Excess weight can raise your cholesterol level like no one’s business. Americans, particularly, cope with weight problems more so as we age, exercise less, and eat more of the wrong types of foods. Foods high in saturated fat like that found in most fast foods, packaged food items, and prepared foods are often the problem. What can you do? Think about how you can eat smaller portions, replace fatty foods with more healthful choices, and get off the couch and start walking!

Your Ancestry: The family you are born into plays an important role in determining whether high cholesterol will be a problem for you. Some families have a history of cholesterol problems while others do not. Check with your parents and siblings to see if they have high cholesterol. If they do, you may have inherited it. Nothing you can do about that!

Gender and Age: Men have more difficulty with high cholesterol and at a younger age than women. However, once women pass through menopause cholesterol levels increase. Generally, everyone’s cholesterol level increases with age. The cure? Stay young!

Exercise and Physical Activity: Our inactive lifestyles are a real killer. If you aren’t getting any exercise you are inviting trouble. No, you do not need to join a gym. Instead, hop on a bicycle or put on your running shoes and take a nice little walk. Keep this up at least five days per week and you will be doing your heart a lot of good.

Drinking Alcohol: Ah, you have heard that red wine can help reduce your cholesterol levels right? Well, not exactly. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL which is the bad cholesterol and HDL which is the good kind. Wine can raise the HDL levels [a good thing] but have little or no effect on the LDL cholesterol. Worse, there is a little something called triglycerides which are found in many foods, including wine. Drink too much wine and you will raise these levels or even risk damaging your liver or heart muscle!

Stress: In and of itself stress is not bad. However, if it causes changes in your behavior including bringing on poor eating habits then it is a REAL problem. Try to keep your stress levels manageable. Regular exercise will reduce your stress and lower your cholesterol levels.

So, there you have it. High cholesterol can be a killer and some of the risk factors mentioned you cannot control. However, eating smaller portions, watching what foods you eat in the first place, getting regular exercise, and reducing your stress levels can all help you out. Still, see your doctor for a checkup as you may need outside help in the form of cholesterol lowering medications including Lipitor, Vytorin, and Crestor. Take charge of your health and you will live a long, prosperous life!

(c)2005; Matthew C Keegan, LLC

Matt Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including aviation, business, customer service, product review, sales, and more. Visit http://www.thearticlewriter.com for additional samples of his work.

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