Monday 28 October 2013

What is Good Cholesterol?


Cholesterol is generally thought of as a bad thing, but many health experts believe a type of good cholesterol may actually have health benefits. This type of cholesterol, called HDL cholesterol, makes up about one-quarter of the cholesterol in your body. This good HDL cholesterol contains high levels of lipoprotein which can reduce the risk of heart disease. Some studies have shown people with low HDL levels to have a heightened risk of heart disease.

Several medications are currently being tested that can raise a person's levels of good cholesterol. Many doctors firmly believe in the health benefits of this form of cholesterol, but the full value of HDL cholesterol remains the subject of numerous medical studies.

 

Increasing Good Cholesterol Levels


There are several ways a person could increase his or her levels of good cholesterol while also improving other aspects of personal health. Here are some of the most common ways B

Aerobic exercise: Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes at least five days per week is one of the easiest ways to increase your HDL levels. In addition to increasing good cholesterol in your body, regular exercise also results in improved cardiovascular health and weight loss, both of which are very helpful for people who have struggled with high levels of bad cholesterol.

Weight loss goals: Losing weight causes the body to reduce its production of bad cholesterol and increase its production of good cholesterol. Weight loss also has numerous other health benefits. Exercising regularly as mentioned above is a key component of weight loss, but eating a healthy weight loss diet is even more important, especially when attempting to raise good cholesterol levels.

Reduce alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol on a regular basis can lead to an increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease of good cholesterol. However, drinking the right kind of alcohol each day, and in small amounts, can actually lead to increases in good cholesterol. Try drinking red wine.

Eat more fiber: Increasing the amount of fibers in your diet can help to increase good
cholesterol and reduce LDL levels. This can be done by increasing the role of foods such as oats, vegetables, beans and legumes in your diet.
Monounsaturated fats: Foods such as olive oil and canola oil can help increase HDL levels. The great thing about these substances is they can replace unhealthy oils and butters when cooking. You can also use some of these essential oils as healthy dressings and topics for salads, sandwiches and other foods.

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