WE MUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION ??
YOUR GUIDE TO
CONQUERING BAD CHOLESTEROL
It's easy to mistake cholesterol for a trendy health term. One day it's all anyone talks about until it eventually goes out of style again. However, it's much more important than that. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring molecule that your body uses to build cells and manufacture things like vitamins and essential hormones. However, when we eat high cholesterol foods, we run the risk of raising the overall cholesterol level in our bodies. In excess, cholesterol can be detrimental to your health.
There are two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is a good kind of cholesterol and may protect against heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, LDL is the dangerous kind of cholesterol that builds up in your arteries and leads to a condition called atherosclerosis. You see, cholesterol is a waxy substance in your blood, and when it attaches itself to the inside of your arteries, it begins to build up until it's
so thick that your blood has very little space to squeeze through. These blocked arteries force your heart to work harder to distribute blood through your body. To control your cholesterol levels, you have to understand its origin. A diet high in saturated fats or trans fats increases your risk of high cholesterol. These fats are consumed most often in meat and dairy and processed foods, respectively. Other factors that increase bad cholesterol are alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and age. The good news is, you can address high cholesterol with some simple diet and lifestyle changes. If you're at all familiar with heart health, you won't be surprised by this information. A healthy diet and regular exercise are vital for preventing a variety of different cardiac conditions. And adopting these healthy habits can be fun! A heart-healthy diet includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and
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Aging Times Magazine | September 2021
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