The health condition of high cholesterol is fairly common. Many people who suffer from this issue depend on prescription drugs. Medications just reduce the symptoms and are only a temporary fix. The best way to keep cholesterol levels under check is to develop certain healthy lifestyle habits.
Having a basic understanding about cholesterol can help you to keep it under control. Cholesterol can be classified into three forms. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is good cholesterol and having high levels of it is good for your health. Triglycerides are a type of fat-cholesterol, high levels of which can be very bad for your health. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol that can have some very harmful effects when present in high concentration. High levels of triglyceride and LDL lead to narrowing of arteries, thereby reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of many serious health problems.
Some of the best natural ways to maintain healthy cholesterol levels are explained below.
Have Control over Your Sugar Intake
Most people are not aware of the fact that sugar levels have a direct influence on the levels of cholesterol. Therefore, you should limit your sugar consumption by avoiding sweets. It is also important to pay attention to the amount of starch you consume since it eventually gets metabolized into unhealthy sugars. Having a control over sugar intake can play a huge role in helping your body to balance the levels of cholesterol.
Eat Red Rice Yeast
Red rice yeast has proven to be very helpful against high cholesterol. Although the exact red rice yeast compounds that help to balance the cholesterol levels are not known, the medical community has acknowledged red rice yeast to be very effective against the problem of high cholesterol.
Include Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Your Diet
Omega-3 fatty acids have a lot of positive effects on cholesterol levels. A diet that contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is highly beneficial for the heart and helps to maintain a healthy circulatory system. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, etc. are some of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Increase Your Water Intake
The benefits of consuming plenty of water daily are numerous. A lesser known benefit of drinking more fresh water is that it indirectly helps to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol. Although water does not reduce LDL cholesterol by itself, it facilitates optimal functioning of other processes that help to balance cholesterol levels.
Eat an Overall Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet every single day is necessary to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Your body should get all the essential nutrients that it requires. This can be achieved by consuming appropriate food groups in the correct proportions. A well-balanced and nutritious diet will facilitates optimal functioning of your body and help it to self-regulate cholesterol.
Avoiding unhealthy foods are equally important as eating healthy ones. Consuming fatty foods, junk foods and processed foods is bound to trigger the problem of high cholesterol.
Indulge in Moderate Exercise on a Regular Basis
Besides developing healthy eating habits as mentioned above, regular exercise also plays a crucial role in lowering your cholesterol levels naturally. Forming a habit of exercising daily will help to increase the amount of good cholesterol and decrease the bad cholesterol at the same time. Exercise will also burn off the extra fats where bad cholesterol gets stored.