Keep Your Cholesterol Low To Ward Off Heart Disease
It’s a fact that there are many genetic factors that can affect your likelihood of developing heart disease, and some people are more prone to developing it than others. However there are steps you can take that will lessen your chances of developing heart disease.
One of those steps is to keep your cholesterol levels low.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy compound that is found in animal products. There are two different types of cholesterol - low density lipoproteins, or LDLs, and high density lipoproteins, or HDLs.
Low density lipoproteins are considered bad cholesterol, and you need to do your best to maintain low levels of this type of cholesterol. HDLs, by contrast, are known as ‘good’ cholesterol, and high levels of it are acceptable
When human beings eat cholesterol, it flows through the bloodstream, sometimes depositing itself within blood vessels. When the blood vessels that are surrounding the heart begin to get built up levels of plaque around them, the blood flow into the heart is constricted. Once the buildup gets big enough, blood flow to the heart may completely stop, resulting in a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, so it’s important to remember that you need to take good care of your heart in order to stay healthy.
One thing that has a significant effect on your cholesterol levels is your diet.
Things that you should eat that are good for your cholesterol levels are foods with unsaturated fats. You should also do your best to get enough servings of whole grains, as well as a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables. Fish and lean meat are good for protein.
Saturated fats should be avoided, as should fatty foods.
Consider adding more garlic to your diet, as garlic is helpful in balancing the LDL and HDL levels present within the body.
Studies have shown that by carefully maintaining your levels of cholesterol it is possible to decrease your risk of developing coronary heart disease by a level of about twenty to thirty percent. There are other lifestyle choices that you can make to further decrease your risk of developing heart disease. For example you should have an exercise program that includes a minimum of half an hour of physical activity at least five days a week.
If you smoke, stop. Smoking causes the heart to work overtime, greatly increasing your risk of developing heart disease
By keeping your lifestyle in check, you can greatly reduce your risks of falling victim to heart disease, the number one cause of death. It’s really up to you.
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