5 Easy Steps to Reduce Cholesterol in 30 Days
If you have been told that you have high cholesterol, itâs time to do something about it. High cholesterol puts you at serious risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other dangerous cardiovascular events.
Fortunately, you can reduce your cholesterol relatively quickly and easily if you follow these five steps.
How to Lower Cholesterol – Tips from South Denver Cardiology Associates
Switch to a Mediterranean Diet
There are actually many dietary guidelines that you can follow to improve your cholesterol (for example, see our 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol), but if youâre looking for the easiest way to do it, you canât beat the Mediterranean diet. High in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, but low in red meat, this diet encapsulates many of the common dietary suggestions youâll encounter.
Not only that, but Mediterranean diet recipes are easy and can use produce from your garden. Take advantage of our extended summer and use up some of the excess produce thatâs still on the vine.
Increase Exercise
Increasing your exercise will do wonders for your cholesterol. If you havenât been very active before, itâs a good idea to talk to your cardiologist before starting an exercise program. Even better, you can Walk with a Doc to enjoy a healthy social activity.
Ideally, you want to work up to 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three days a week.
Supplement Fiber
When you switch to a Mediterranean diet, youâre probably increasing your fiber consumption. However, it still might not be enough. Fiber is important because it can prevent fat and cholesterol from entering the bloodstream. In addition, it can encourage the liver to pull cholesterol from the blood.
Psyllium husk is a great choice for your fiber supplement. Itâs commonly available in Metamucil and similar fiber supplements. If your schedule is hectic, making it difficult to prepare or eat balanced meals, greens powder can be a convenient way to get essential nutrients on the go. You can learn more on https://www.outlookindia.com/outlook-spotlight/athletic-greens-ag1-review-is-it-worth-the-hype-or-superfood-don-t-buy-until-you-read-this-news-301982/.
Lose Weight
We know: losing weight isnât always as easy as people say. However, itâs very important for your cholesterol. Being overweight increases your cholesterol, so losing weight can help you reduce your cholesterol levels.
And if youâre already switching to a Mediterranean diet and increasing your exercise, itâs not actually that hard to lose a significant amount of weight. Just keep eating reasonable portions and getting your daily exercise, and you should lose weight â unless you have other health problems you might want to talk to your doctor about.
Drink Alcohol in Moderation
Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to increase your levels of good cholesterol, which, in turn, can reduce your levels of bad cholesterol.
The effects arenât enough to encourage people to start drinking, but it does mean that perhaps itâs a good idea not to cut all alcohol from your diet just for the sake of reducing calories.
Let South Denver Cardiology Associates Help
If you are trying to improve your health by cutting down on your cholesterol, South Denver Cardiology Associates offers many programs that might be useful. This includes our gym and various exercise classes.
We can also help you assess the seriousness of your heart problems with extensive diagnostic testing options. For example, we offer a heart scan that looks at the calcification of your heart arteries. This can help you understand your heart risks in the near term.
To learn more about the benefits of working with South Denver Cardiology, please call 303-744-1065 or use our online form to schedule an appointment today.
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As with any health concerns, your specific treatment program should be discussed thoroughly with your primary care physician as well as any specialists who may need to be consulted â like a cardiologist.
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