Your Guardian Of Good Health, HDL Cholesterol
A healthy level of HDL cholesterol guarantees protection against heart disease. HDL cholesterol is instrumental in controlling its bad cousin, LDL cholesterol. Let’s learn how to maintain a healthy HDL cholesterol level.
Simply put, we should do our best to enhance the level of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Modern allopathy has a number of medicines in its armory which can combat heart disease. These must be taken under medical guidance because their incorrect use may endanger your very life. Here are some alternative therapies which can reduce your risk of heart disease safely, simply. The first is cardiovascular exercise which improves the health of the circulatory system. Cardiovascular exercise is a proven therapeutic activity to bring your cholesterol to a healthy level.
The generally held medical opinion is that thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day is sufficient to control bad cholesterol levels. Dr. Mercola thinks otherwise. He stresses the importance of exercise being exercise, not a form of relaxation. Exercise is beneficial to health only when we feel exerted. This can be done in two ways: either increase the stress level of the exercise, or increase its duration. He feels that the second option is the safer of the two. Simply jogging in the park for the stipulated thirty minutes is not going to do an iota of good for our cholesterol level, says Dr. Mercola. Extend the jog to an hour, and then you’ll experience an appreciable reduction of bad cholesterol. Whatever form of exercise you choose, just make sure you exercise regularly.
Cardiovascular exercise is your most formidable weapon against cardiovascular disease. Diet control is extremely important to reap the full benefits of cardiovascular exercise. Recognize that some types of fat are good for HDL cholesterol: these are mono-unsaturated fats, and omega-3 fats. Virgin olive oil is recommended for your health. Avoid canola oil, because though it is a mono-unsaturated fat it is generally obtained from genetically modified sources. Saturated fats are bad for the HDL cholesterol level.
Some fats like omega-3 fats actually enhance the level of HDL cholesterol. Include fish in your diet because they are rich sources of these beneficial fats. Margarine and creamy and sugary processed food items are bad for HDL cholesterol, and should be restricted. Dietary control coupled with regular cardiovascular exercise will improve your HDL cholesterol level.
What else can you do to improve your HDL cholesterol level? You can change the bad habits that are part of modern life. Cigarette smoking destroys the HDL cholesterol in the blood. Stop smoking to prevent this destruction of beneficial HDL cholesterol. Obesity increases the level of bad HDL cholesterol. Regular workouts can reduce obesity and improve the cholesterol balance.
One more question on the subject of lifestyle: Are you a bundle of nerves? If yes, then you must get a hold of yourself immediately. Stress can trigger your LDL cholesterol to shoot through the roof and that can mean an imminent heart attack or stroke! Implement stress management techniques. It’s very simple really, really! Be prepared for the stress attack before it attacks. When you see Bob walking in, you psyche yourself into playing it cool. After Bob plays himself out, you’ll find that you’re not the one who’s stressed, Bob is!
Cardiovascular exercise, dietary control, and lifestyle modification: these are the three important ways to a better cholesterol situation. Follow the steps we’ve put together for you and your risk of suffering heart disease will just fade away. Have a healthy, happy life!
