You’ve probably heard of the term ‘cholesterol’, but do you know what it can mean for you? We all have levels of cholesterol in our body, but some of us have more than others. This can affect our health and leave us susceptible to illness’ like heart disease and strokes. Want to learn more about cholesterol? Read on:
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is fat cells that are made within our bodies. The liver makes them, mostly. A lot of foods contain this fat too, but it’s usually not absorbed very well by the gut. We all need a little cholesterol to stay healthy, believe it or not. However, too much cholesterol can leave us at risk of all kinds of problems. People with high cholesterol levels are unhealthy, and need to lower their cholesterol in order to protect themselves and become healthy again.
How Do You Find Out What State Yours is In?
The best way to learn about your cholesterol level is to see your doctor. However, they will usually notify you if they thing you need this done. If you’re fairly healthy and at a healthy weight, then there may be no point as you probably already have healthy cholesterol levels.
How Does Cholesterol Get too High?
Many things can cause cholesterol levels to get too high. These include:
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Eating too much salt.
- Eating rubbish like crisps, sweets, and fatty foods.
- Letting yourself put on too much weight.
- Not exercising.
- Smoking.
However, you can’t always control certain factors. Some people simply have a strong family history which makes them more susceptible. Age can be a factor, as can just being male. Sometimes, having a high cholesterol level isn’t fair at all!
How Do You Lower Your Cholesterol?
If your cholesterol is too high, it’s important that you take steps to lower it. You’ll instantly reduce your risk of having a heart attack or suffering from a stroke.
To lower your cholesterol, you should reduce the amount of junk food you eat. Foods with high amounts of fat in them should also be limited, even if they are healthy fats in some cases. If you can get some regular exercise in too, that’s even better. Find something you enjoy and stick with it! You don’t necessarily need to join a gym, so don’t use that excuse. You can run and do bodyweight exercises by simply venturing outside and taking advantage of nature.
If you smoke, it’s important that you quit. It is hard, but you can do it if you try. You’ll be doing the best thing possible for yourself! Learn more about what hospitals are doing to help smokers quit here.
We know that nobody is perfect, and you probably aren’t going to cut out fatty/junk food altogether. However, having it in moderation rather than as your staple diet will do you a world of good. Exercise will become enjoyable once you’ve stuck at it for a few weeks too!
Thanks for reading!