Are you a man older than the age of 45? Are you a woman over the age of 55? Are you a smoker? Are you overweight? Are you unfit?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be at risk of high cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can have a detrimental impact on your overall health and are one of the leading illnesses in men and women in their prime.

Fortunately, there are ways to control cholesterol levels and lowering high cholesterol levels isn't as hard as it may seem.
Here are 3 easy ways to lower your cholesterol levels so you can start leading a healthier life today:

1. Eat Healthy. Your nutritional choices will have a great impact on your cholesterol levels. Make conscious choices to eat foods like fish (tuna and salmon), nuts (walnuts and almonds) and oats. Foods with moderate amounts of olive oil will also help lower high cholesterol levels. Stay away from goods like ice cream, sausage, egg yolks, French fries, cheesecake, pastries and donuts, potato chops and bacon.

2. Exercise. Exercising on a regular basis will help improve all aspects of your health but will specifically aid in lowering cholesterol. Moderate to high level cardio workouts (walking, swimming etc.) that increase your heart rate are the most successful in lowering cholesterol levels. If you're overweight, it is especially important to exercise on a daily basis since your weight already puts you at greater risk of high cholesterol levels.

Staying fit with cardio workouts lowers triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) and boosts HDH (good cholesterol) making it much easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

3. Medication. For some sufferers, medication is a last result when it comes to lowering cholesterol levels. For others, particularly individuals with heart disease or diabetes, medication is important in lowering cholesterol levels from the very beginning. If you find yourself in the position where medication is necessary, it's important to know which types to look for.

Ezetimibe (zetia), Niacin (Niacor, Niaspin, Nicolar), Statins (Crestor, Lipitor) and fibrates are all popular types of medication that will help in lowering high cholesterol levels. Make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.

Lowering cholesterol levels can be a struggle for many individuals. Making a conscious effort to change the way you live will have positive results on your overall health.

If you think you may be suffering from high cholesterol, see you doctor. He/she will help you create a routine that will help control your health issues so you can go on leading a happy, healthy life.



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