Factors that influence cholesterol:

1. Poor eating habits and a diet that is high in saturated fat.

Saturated fats are mostly found in animal foods. These fats raise your LDL (“bad”) levels more than anything else your diet. Consuming a high percentage of saturated fat is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol as well as high rates of heart attacks.

2. Smoking Cigarettes lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol level:

Cigarette smoke is one of the six major risk factors of heart disease. It also increases the tendency for blood clots to occur.

3. Excess Weight:

Excess weight tends to increase your LDL bad cholesterol level. If you are over weight and have high LDL-cholesterol level, the only way to lower the high levels of LDL is to lose unwanted weight.

4. Genetics:

One can also inherit these high levels of LDL in that increases your cholesterol. Genes play a role in influencing you LDL-cholesterol level. Your genes influence how your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood.

5. Stress:

Long term effects from stress has proven to raise blood cholesterol levels.

6. Alcohol intake:

Alcohol intake increases HDL (“good”) cholesterol (believe it or not), but does not lower LDL (“bad”)cholesterol. Obviously, drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides.

The following factors help lower cholesterol:

1. Good Eating Habits:

Eating healthy is a vital part of lowering you cholesterol. Increase fiber intake by as little as 3 grams per day and you can help lower cholesterol. Good sources include oatmeal, soy, legumes, some vegetables, and beans. A healthy diet includes minimal saturated fat.

2. Exercise Along with diet:

Staying fit by exercising will also help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Being physically active can help lower you cholesterol level, whether it involves everyday activities like cleaning or gardening or structured exercise program. Exercise sets off a series of enzymatic reactions in the body that increases HDL’s and lowers triglycerides. This will ultimately lower LDL’s (“bad”) and total cholesterol.

3. Weight Loss

Undoubtedly this is the most significant, independent contributor to cholesterol reduction. While exercise and proper diet contribute to cholesterol reduction, in most cases weight loss must occur to see an improvement.

Learn how to measure blood pressure. Surely it is better if you do not need this kind of knowledge in your life. But on the other hand, it is much better to be prepared in advance.

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