Cholesterol is essential in our body because it helps maintain cells and transmit nerve impulses. It is found in body cells and is present in the bloodstream. The body produces its own cholesterol through the liver. Food is also a source of cholesterol and when we have too much absorbed in our system, plus other risk factors like lifestyle, age, gender, and present illness, it can lead to serious health problems.

Lower your risks by changing what you can and doing things that lead to a healthier lifestyle. Here are some things that you can do to change for a healthier you:

• Quit smoking – cigarettes have hundreds of chemicals that can harm your body. The sooner you quit, the better. Also, cigarette smoke can cause harm as much as smoking it. Avoid going to places that trap smoke or hanging around in smoking areas.

• Quit your sedentary lifestyle – exercise is healthy but if you do not have the time to go to the gym, there are still ways on how you can burn calories, such as:

Using the stairs instead of the elevator especially when your office is only a few floors up.

Do chores like cleaning your house or your car, walking to the grocery, moving furniture, scrubbing floors, gardening, cleaning windows, and even getting yourself to stand up to reach for the things you need instead of asking someone to get them for you.

Cycling to work every once in a while.

• Quit eating unhealthy food – avoid processed food, fast food, and junk foods because they are high in cholesterol and have low nutritional value. Try fruits and nuts for snacks instead of chips. Choose a healthy sandwich over burger and fries. Other food that can lower your cholesterol levels include oatmeal, almonds, blueberries and tomatoes.

Genetics also play a part in the body’s production and absorption of cholesterol. If your family has a history of high cholesterol levels, it is important to opt for a healthier lifestyle at an early stage to avoid any complications later on. You may use some preventive idea like doing a cholesterol test that measures the amount of bad and good cholesterol in the blood.

Source:

http://www.realage.com/health-guides/sources-of-cholesterol

http://www.realage.com/health-guides/cholesterol-and-heart-disease-risk

Posted under Cholesterol
Tags: cholesterol levels, cholesterol test, good cholesterol, high cholesterol, lowering cholesterol levels.