cholesterol normal
by Frank Vanderlugt
One of the most frequent causes of death in the US is heart disease, and one of the leading causes of heart disease is high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a normal and necessary part of the human body generated by our livers that helps build and hold together the cells and tissues in our organs.
The liver produces enough cholesterol to let the body function, but we also ingest cholesterol through food. The more saturated th
e content of our food, the more cholesterol. Too much cholesterol clogs the arteries as "plaque" and often leads to heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol may also lead to the chest pains associated with angina by blocking oxygen supplies to the heart. Genetics may play a part in your likelihood of maintaining a cholesterol level that is normal. Some genes make even people who don't eat food with high saturated fat content at risk for high cholesterol.
To take a risk assessment test for high cholesterol or to see if your cholesterol levels are normal, visit helpfightcholesterol.com. Make an appointment with your physician to test to see if your cholesterol is normal or if you may need to take medication.
Many people with high cholesterol levels achieve a "cholesterol normal" level with the help of medication in combination with diet and exercise. Common medications to get cholesterol to normal include Lipitor, Crestor, and Zetia.
Each time you lower your cholesterol levels by 1% and get that much closer to a cholesterol normal level, your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cholesterol-related disease decreases by 2%! Why put off striving for a "cholesterol normal" kind of life when even such a small change can make twice as much difference to the improvement to your health?
What's the first step to striving for a "cholesterol normal" kind of lifestyle? A diet that's low in saturated fat. Low fat foods that could contribute to a "cholesterol normal" level include fruits, vegetables, rice, cereals, pasta, fish, shellfish, seeds, nuts, and vegetable oils.
You don't have to give up meat and other foods you love entirely, though, just watch the level of fats and cholesterol you ingest. Speak with a doctor or nutritionist to find the "cholesterol normal" diet that is right for you. Typical cholesterol normal diets consist of food with a total level of less than 200-300 mg of cholesterol per day.
Exercising regularly is always important for good health and striving for a "cholesterol normal" kind of life is no different! You should discuss your personal exercise routine with a doctor or licensed trainer.
A good routine to start with until then is 20-60 minutes of strength training exercises like lifting weights twice a week coupled with 20-60 minutes of aerobics exercise like walking or jogging three times a week. Even just starting small and talking a walk around the park during your lunch hour brings you one step closer to a "cholesterol normal" kind of life!
The best way to ensure a normal cholesterol level is to take preventative action! Eat a low fat diet, make regular appointments with your doctor to test your cholesterol levels, exercise regularly, and strive for a "cholesterol normal" kind of life!
About the Author
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.cholesterol-normal-levels.com 2 Cholesterolnormallevelscom