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What Lowers LDL, Raises HDL, and Lowers Overall Triglycerides?

People often think "cholesterol" is something bad for your body. There are various components to overall cholesterol levels, and it is important to keep the good cholesterol in your body while limiting the foods that offer bad cholesterol, so that your body can function optimally.

  1. LDL

    • Low-density lipoprotein is considered bad for your body, and should be restricted in your diet. A high level of LDL cholesterol in your body can result in hardening and thickening of the arterial walls, causing blood to flow less smoothly, and can cause a heart attack or stroke to occur. There are a variety of ways to improve your LDL cholesterol without medication, such as consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, frequent exercise and not smoking.

    HDL

    • High-density lipoproteins are good for your body and should be maintained for good health. HDL is responsible for carrying cholesterol away from arterial pathways and returned to the liver, where the body can expel it. Low levels of HDL can result in heart disease, as can high levels of LDL. You can naturally raise your HDL levels by exercising, losing weight if you are overweight and stopping smoking.

    Triglycerides

    • Triglycerides are a type of fat that is made in the body, and it is important to keep triglyceride levels low. High levels of triglycerides are found in people who are physically inactive, are overweight, consume large amounts of alcohol, eat a lot of carbohydrates or smoke.

    Diet

    • Diet plays an important part in lowering LDL and triglyceride levels. Eat foods high in soluble fiber, such as oats and apples. Make sure to frequently consume walnuts and almonds, fish, olive oil and orange juice to keep LDL levels from becoming dangerously high.

    Exercise

    • Exercise is extremely effective for improving cholesterol, as it lowers LDL levels and raises HDL levels. Regardless of if it is daily activities or vigorous exercise routines, exercise gets the blood circulating through your body and improves cholesterol levels.

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