Lowering your Cholesterol

After a recent trip to the doctor, you've found that your cholesterol levels are considerably high. The doctor says there's no need to worry just yet--that a few lifestyle changes and a weight loss program could restore you health in no time. But how do you get started? Here are some cholesterol loweringtips that you and your family may want to include in your lifestyle in order to restore your health and prevent future problems.

One of the first cholesterol loweringsteps you'll want to take is to change your diet. If you're used to eating fast food every day for lunch, or if you always eat dessert after dinner, these habits can be a little hard to break right away, so you'll want to wean yourself from certain foods a little at a time so that you don't get frustrated and stop the process altogether. For instance, if you have a burger and fries for lunch at least a few times a week, try getting a salad instead of French fries--this will make a big difference in the fat content of your meals, and you'll notice that you start to feel lighter and less tired when it's time to finish out the rest of the work day. You should also use a light dressing for your salad, so that you don't defeat the purpose of your diet change by adding extra calories. Or, instead of having pie or cake for dessert, which is probably rich in trans fat and sugar, why not try eating a piece of fruit? You could also make a smoothie and sweeten it with honey, or make a fruit salad with whipped topping that the whole family will enjoy. Your energy levels will start to increase within a week or so, and you'll even start to notice that you're losing weight as well.

Exercise is another great way to start the cholesterol loweringprocess. You've got to keep your body active in order to regulate the blood flow and prevent weight gain. When there is too much weight on the body, it is harder for you to move, which makes it harder for the blood to flow from one part of the body to the other. This means that the heart is either getting too much or not enough blood, and this could cause a heart attack. It was also believed in previous years that only older patients had to deal with this risk, but teenagers and young adults who are chronically inactive run the risk of developing high cholesterol as well.

There are also medicines that you can take for cholesterol loweringpurposes, but it is best to take these preventative measures before you start talking to your doctor about medication. Substances like Lipitor have been known to regulate the levels of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol in the body, and can help protect your heart. If you've found that your levels are high, and you need to do something right away, you should come up with a plan with your doctor to incorporate exercise and diet into your medication regimen.

If you need more tips on cholesterol lowering, or need help figuring out which foods are best to eat, you can check out www.webmd.com for helpful articles, or check out the latest heart health research at www.americanheart.org.