Being healthy is more than just being at an ideal weight. Having healthy cholesterol is important for your overall health. If your cholesterol is too high or too low it can affect your quality of life and can also be the underlying cause of a premature death.

By knowing what cholesterol is, what healthy cholesterol levels you should strive for, and how to achieve those levels, you can ensure that you are in control of your cholesterol and control of your health.

What is Cholesterol?

Your first step in controlling cholesterol is to understand exactly what cholesterol is. Cholesterol is a lipid that surrounds all of the cells in your body. Cholesterol is responsible for insulating your nerve fibers. When your nerve fibers are properly insulated then nerve signals are able to travel through your body effectively. When nerve signals are unable to travel at a healthy rate, because of high cholesterol, then your body is at risk for various complications.

Controlling Your Cholesterol Level

It’s important to know where you stand in regards to your cholesterol level. Even people who appear to be in excellent health have unhealthy cholesterol. Check with your doctor to find out exactly what your cholesterol numbers are. And if your levels are not ideal, understand that there are things that you can do to improve them.

Improving Your Cholesterol Levels

High cholesterol is the number one indicator of future health complications such as heart disease and stroke. If your cholesterol levels are high then you need to take control of your health by adjusting your eating and your exercise habits. Cholesterol levels can be greatly improved through diet and exercise.

The simplest way to improve your diet and lower your cholesterol is to cut out the fat from your foods. Eating a low fat diet that consists of lots of fruit and veggies, as well as lean meats like chicken is a diet that will not only allow you to drop some pounds but also drop your cholesterol to a healthier level.

You may want to consult a nutritionist to get some tips on introducing cholesterol friendly foods to your diet. There are also many cookbooks available, both in bookstores and online that are filled with cholesterol friendly meal ideas.

You can also improve your cholesterol level by increasing your activity level. Regular exercise not only strengthens your heart, increases your metabolism and lowers your body weight; it also lowers your cholesterol.

And it’s not only what you do, in regards to lowering your cholesterol, it’s also what you don’t do. You can greatly reduce your cholesterol levels by reducing the amount of alcohol you drink as well as by quitting smoking.

Medical Help to Lower Cholesterol

Sometimes dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to lower cholesterol. High cholesterol has a strong genetic link in some people, and prescription medication may be needed to keep cholesterol at a healthy level.

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