Cholesterol Basics
There is a lot of talk about cholesterol these days and it can be hard to know what to make of it. They talk about good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, but what is the difference? If you want to improve your everyday health by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, then it is important to know the facts about cholesterol and what you can do to have enough of the good and very little of the bad. Knowing how much of each you need and how you can increase or decrease wanted and unwanted levels is the first step in getting the facts about cholesterol.
First of all, let's talk about what cholesterol is and what it is designed to do. According to the American Heart Association, "cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells." Cholesterol is a normal part of the body and is used for hormone and cell-membrane creation. However, having too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to a heart-attack or stroke if levels are not kept in check. Therefore, the first step you can take to improve your everyday health is to start monitoring your cholesterol levels.
If you want to start checking your cholesterol levels, then you will need to know what to check for. The "bad" cholesterol is called LDL and is the kind that can build up in your arteries and cause heart disease. The "good" cholesterol is called HDL and actually helps protect against heart attacks and other forms of heart disease. A healthy level of HDL, which helps to carry away the bad cholesterol, is at least 40 mg/dL although that is the minimum. You also need to watch for Triglycerides, which can signal a high level of LDL and low level of HDL. Triglycerides are generally a result of high fat diets, poor exercise habits, or bad habits such as smoking.
So, if you have too much bad cholesterol or not enough good cholesterol, what can you do about it? Well the 3 most beneficial changes you can make to improve your cholesterol levels are to avoid tobacco smoke, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet. However, if you are already doing these things, than you may talk to your doctor about possible drugs or medications that can help. The bottom line is that you need to keep using every natural method possible to help maintain and minimize bad cholesterol levels before you look into medication.
You need less of the bad and more of the good cholesterol. Simply making a few lifestyle changes can have a tremendous impact on your everyday health and keep you risk-free from heart disease. You need to make sure you are eating healthy and getting enough exercise. Avoid tobacco smoke at all costs, and make sure that you are getting your cholesterol levels checked regularly by your doctor. Cholesterol medication is available from your doctor if you need it, but try to do everything in your power to get healthy without it.