| As we age, more and more health problems arise, | | | | to be free of trans fats, but this is not always the |
| and one very common one is, high cholesterol. For | | | | case. As long as the product contains less than. 5 g |
| those who may not know this, there is good and bad | | | | of trans fats, that the product by law can make this |
| cholesterol, and it is found in every cell of our bodies. | | | | claim. Instead of depending on the marketing, read |
| Before medication must be prescribed to control, and | | | | the ingredients and see if there is any hydrogenated |
| maintain this problem, you should know that there | | | | oils listed. Hydrogenated oils equal trans fats. |
| are ways to lower cholesterol without drugs. | | | | If you are a smoker, quit! Smoking cigarettes |
| The body uses cholesterol to build hormones and | | | | increases cholesterol. There are ways to help |
| healthy cells, and therefore it is a necessity to the | | | | smokers deal with the withdrawals, such as special |
| body. When those levels increase, fat deposits begin | | | | gum, patches, and support groups. If you are above |
| to form in the blood vessels. This in turn causes | | | | the average weight for your height, lose weight, as it |
| difficulty for the blood to easily flow through your | | | | contributes to this problem. |
| arteries. High cholesterol can increase your chance of | | | | Having high cholesterol causes heart disease, as |
| getting a heart attack or a stroke. | | | | mentioned above. Therefore, to counter effect this |
| Therefore, regular exercise and a healthy diet is key | | | | problem, you should start eating a healthy diet that |
| to keeping your cholesterol at healthy levels. | | | | promotes a healthier and stronger heart. Such foods |
| Decreasing the amount of excessively high fat foods, | | | | include omega-3 fatty acids that are found in some |
| such as dairy products is a step in the right direction. | | | | fish, fruits and vegetables, and whole wheat or whole |
| Educate yourself in understanding the nutrition labels | | | | grain foods. Avoid eating processed and refined |
| on packaging to make yourself aware of the fats | | | | foods. |
| that you need to avoid. | | | | Alcohol consumption should be no more than one or |
| For instance, saturated fats and trans fats are | | | | two drinks a day. Exercise for a minimum of 30 |
| terrible for the body. In fact, trans fats not only raise | | | | minutes a day. These few changes will not only make |
| the bad cholesterol (LDL), but they lower the good | | | | you healthier, look better, and feel better, they will |
| cholesterol (HDL). Product packaging will often claimed | | | | also lower your cholesterol levels considerably. |