Changing your lifestyle and diet are the best ways to lower your cholesterol without prescription drugs. When you lower your cholesterol you also lower your risk of heart disease which is one of the biggest killers in our society. Exercise and diet can put you on the road to a healthier heart and cardiovascular system. There are many things you can do and we will give you a few ideas to get started on the path to a healthier you!
Go for a Walk! This is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. And, if you can go outdoors for a walk, there are even more benefits. The only thing you need is a good pair of shoes and that is well worth the investment I can you tell you from personal experience. Even a short walk is better than no walk at all. Walking can help you lose weight, keep your bones strong, maintain your balance and even loweryour risk of heart disease and stroke.
There really is no need for the super-size meals. Most restaurants serve way too much food for one person to eat. A portion is equal to one handful. Use your hand and stop the overeating that America is so famous for. This overeating contributes to high cholesterol and of course, weight gain.
Fatty fish are very heart healthy as fish is low in saturated fat and high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglyceride blood levels. Don't deep fry the fish though, use other methods of cooking.
Eat more vegetables and fruit. Fruits and veggies have lots of antioxidants that are beneficial and having several servings throughout the day can help lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol. Eating more fruits and vegetables also can promote weight loss and lower your blood pressure.
Less potatoes and more beans is a good rule to think about. High fiber carbohydrates like brown rice and beans can help lower your cholesterol. These type of carbs keep you feeling full longer as well. When you indulge in carbohydrates like white bread, white rice and potatoes it can lead to a boost in blood sugar. You will then get hungry again sooner and this can lead to overeating.
Nuts are great for your cardiovascular health but only eat a handful as they contain a lot of calories. Nuts contain monounsaturated fat, the form of fat that lowers LDL cholesterol while maintaining HDL levels.
There are many great ways to keep your heart healthy. These are a just a few tips. But the best one is to keep moving! That's right, keep moving. We know, you may be on your feet a lot doing your job as a Travel Nurse or Allied healthcare professional, but a walk will still make you feel better and improve your health. Be safe and be smart!
Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network
