Five Easy Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Did you know that there are two types of cholesterol? Low density lipoproteins (LDL) is the bad kind, which blocks the arteries with plaque, leading to heart disease because of the extra pressure put on the heart to pump the blood around the body. High density lipoproteins (HDL) are the good kind, which fights LDL and helps your body fight off heart disease. So ideally, you want low LDL and high HDL. So how can you achieve this? Here are five ways to keep your cholesterol in check and lower the risk of heart disease.
1.    Lose weight – This will lower LDL. Although it will also temporarily lower HDL, these levels with rise again once your weight stabilizes. Calculate your body mass index (BMI) and keep your weight within the healthy range.
2.    Eat less saturated fat – These are found mainly in foods derived from animals, such as beef, pork, cream, and poultry. While these are an important part of any balanced diet, they should be limited – the American Heart Association suggests that saturated fat should total less than 7% of your daily calorie count.
3.    Use a lipid-lowering agent – Some drugs work by stopping the lipids in your bloodstream combining to create cholesterol. Generic Tricor works by reducing the LDL in your blood, while simultaneously increasing the levels of HDL.
4.    Statins – Statins work by blocking the enzymes that are needed to produce cholesterol. Generic Lipitor helps the body fight a build up of cholesterol by raising the level of HDLs and lowering LDLs, keeping your arteries clear of plaque and helping your heart stay strong.
5.    Exercise – Exercise can have a small effect on reducing the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood. Although its affect is not large, exercise will also help strengthen your heart, meaning that if cholesterol does build up, you will have more chance of your body coping with it successfully.
High cholesterol affects around 20% of Americans today. Taking care of yourself and your body has a positive effect on all areas of your life. And when it’s as easy as this, why not give it