Good Cholesterol

You may have been told that you have to lower your fat intake or get your fat intake levels in order, but did you know that there is actually good cholesterol that you'll want to keep in the body? Here is some information about this substance, as well as how you can make the necessary lifestyle changes to keep your levels in check.

Good cholesterolis also referred to as high density lipoprotein (HDL), and high levels of this substance help to protect the body against heart attacks. If you have low HDL, your risk of heart disease is increased, since the substance carries cholesterol away from the heart and liver, making for better circulation, and giving you the ability to flush out toxins from the body much faster. HDL can also slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries by taking the additional fat and impurities away from the body.

In order to keep your good cholesterol at the right levels, you'll also need to manage your triglycerides. This is another substancce that is created by the body, but you shouldn't have too much of it, since it can lead to serious health problems. You can also find triglycerides in some of the things that you eat, which is why you have to be careful of your diet so that you're not consuming too much of this substance. Being inactive, smoking, drinking heavily, and consuming a diet that is very high in carbohydrates will fill the body with more triglycerides, and your good cholesterollevel is lowered. This means that low density lipoproteins, or LDL, which is bad cholesterol is present at higher levels in the body, and you'll need to work as fast as you can to reverse these levels if you get results from the doctor telling you that you're at risk for heart disease or complications with blood pressure.

By taking unhealthy foods out of your diet, you could reduce your risk of losing your good cholesterol significantly. Instead of eating lots of fast foods and fried meats, which are very high in LDL and triglycerides, you can try baking your favorite dishes instead of using unhealthy oils for frying. You'll also want to pay special attention to the snacks that you're consuming throughout the day. Potato chips, cookies, and snack cakes all contain a considerable amount of cholesterol, so you'll need to start eating things like nuts, fresh fruit, or trail mix in between meals to keep your good cholesterolat the right levels.

Staying active is another way to make sure that your HDL level does not go down. Start small by take a walk after dinner each night, or jogging around your block in the morning before breakfast. You can increase your exercise time as you gain more energy, and you'll be amazed at how much better you feel. To get ideas for a new lifestyle regimen that will help you maintain your good cholesterol levels, visit www.americanheart.org.