The Crisis of Cholesterol - How to Manage it?

High cholesterol is definitely one of the kind of health scares you don’t want to know about. It is the cause of several diseases and illnesses, such as heart failure, internal damage, irregular blood sugar, et cetera. And in today’s hectic lifestyle, maintaining the right level of cholesterol is not that easy. After all, our everyday routine if filled with junk food, wrong lifestyle manners, irregular sleep patterns, excessive stress and tension, among several other things. So what are some ways in which we can maintain a good health? Following points might help you - 

• Reduce saturated fats in your diet. Saturated fats, found mainly in red meat and most of the dairy products, can raise your total cholesterol. Decreasing the consumption of saturated fats can further reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, aka the "bad" cholesterol.
• Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL cholesterol. But they have other heart-healthy benefits, including reducing blood pressure. Foods with omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, mackerel, herring, walnuts and flaxseeds.
• Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, provides you the goodness of daity products, without having to use them. Research studies have shown that whey protein, when given as a supplement, lowers both LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol as well as blood pressure.
• Exercise. Do we even need to say it again? Exercise is the answer to several diseases, irregular cholesterol being one of them. Generally, any type of exercise may improve cholesterol levels and promote heart health. The longer and more intense the exercise, the greater the benefit.
• Lose excessive weight. Of course, all sizes are beautiful. And by advicing you to lose weight, the implication is not to achieve a zero-figure, but a healthy weight. Excesiive weight can lead to heart failure, joint pain, and cardiac arrest. Moreover, weight loss reduces total cholesterol, in part by decreasing the creation of new cholesterol in the liver. Weight loss also helps decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol
• Avoid smoking. Smoking has been shown to increase LDL, decrease HDL, and tamper the body’s ability to transport cholesterol back to the liver, where it is either stored or broken down. Quitting smoking can help reverse these effects.
• Maintain your drinking habits. 1–2 drinks per day may improve HDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, heavier alcohol use increases heart disease risk and harms the liver.

So what are you waiting for? After getting a proper health check-up, switch to a better lifestyle to avoid any future health scare. Happy health!