Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin D, hormones, and certain acids that help us digest fat. Only a small amount of cholesterol is needed to meet these needs; in fact, our bodies actually produce enough cholesterol on their own, and any cholesterol derived from food is unnecessary. Problems arise when we have too much cholesterol, commonly known as LDL. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important:
-Heredity
-What you eat
-Weight
-Physical activity/exercise
-Age and sex
-Alcohol
-Stress
Of these, you obviously cannot control your heredity, age, or sex but you should always consider those factors when embarking on a plan to lower your LDL level. On a good note, most of the known factors that contribute to cholesterol problems and heart disease ARE under your control.
The foods you eat, your weight, and your amount of physical activity are all inter-related components that can contribute to decreasing your LDL levels. The two main ingredients in many of the foods you consume that can cause an increase in LDL are saturated fat and cholesterol. Both of these nutrients are found in animal products, so eating more lean meats and fish, along with a heavy supply of fruits and vegetables, can cut down on these elements. Also, by eating this healthier diet, weight loss will most likely occur naturally; this will lower triglycerides, which will raise "good" cholesterol, known as HDL. Increasing physical activity is also all tied in to a healthy diet and weight loss, and will not only help you lose weight, but build up your stamina and improve your overall health
Alcohol intake increases HDL cholesterol, but does not lower LDL cholesterol. Doctors are unsure as to whether alcohol reduces the risk of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, however, causing high blood pressure and raising triglycerides; because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used as a way to prevent heart disease.
Finally, stress is something we all want to avoid, but which is sometimes unavoidable. Many times, when we stress, we don't make wise choices and wind up eating fatty foods that are high in saturated fat. Some ways to de-stress: yoga, exercise, breathing exercises. Even taking twenty minutes out of your day to take a quiet bath or read a book can calm your nerves and reduce stress.
There has been a long-standing belief in natural medicine that there are certain foods that provide more than just dietary value and are believed to have disease-fighting and healing properties. One of these foods that has been proven to be a way to fill up on antioxidants is the blueberry. In recent USDA studies blueberries been shown to be number one in antioxidant activity, as compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables and makes this humble fruit the ideal health supplement.
Find out more: http://blueberrysupplements.co.uk
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Many of us, probably even you, want this thing called... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More
Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More
The story of creation begins with water. Water is an... Read More
The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992,... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or... Read More
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..Post nasal drip is a sensation of mucous build up... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More
All carbohydrates are not the same. Generally it is assumed... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More
Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
Although many realize that the liver has its own cleansing... Read More
Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based... Read More
Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More
Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
Who suffers from Eating Disorders?Eating Disorder sufferers are male and... Read More
Zingiber officinale has been held in the highest regard by... Read More
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Nutrition |