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Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made naturally in the body and is responsible for forming hormones and cell membranes. When your cholesterol gets too high, plaque can form on the walls of your arteries, which can increase your risk for having a heart attack. To treat your cholesterol, there are several guidelines you can follow.

  1. Diet

    • Although it cannot be completely responsible for elevated cholesterol levels, your diet can definitely contribute. One of the most common guidelines for treating cholesterol is to make some dietary adjustments. Foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol need to be consumed in low amounts or avoided altogether. Examples of these include red and dark meat, deep-fried foods, whole-milk dairy products, eggs with yolks, poultry with skins, and shellfish. Foods that come from plant sources are recommended: They include whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.

    Exercise

    • Exercise brings a lot of benefits to the body. It helps lower your blood pressure, it lowers your risk for diabetes, it improves circulation and it can also condition your lungs and heart. According to the American Council on Exercise, "aim to be physically active on most, if not all days of the week." Examples of exercises are jogging, walking, biking and swimming. Exercise for at least 30 minutes. Your intensity should be moderate, meaning that you are slightly winded and are breaking a sweat.

    Weight

    • Weight maintenance is another important factor when it comes to cholesterol. If you are overweight or obese, your risk goes up. Monitor your calories in versus your calories out to keep your weight under control.

    Smoking

    • The acronym "HDL" stands for "high density lipoprotein," which is your good cholesterol. You want this number to be higher. Avoid or quit smoking, as this can lower your HDL levels.

    Alcohol

    • Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, damage your liver and increase your risk for strokes, high blood pressure and cancer. If you drink, keep it to no more than one or two beverages a day--this can help raise your HDL levels. But according to the American Heart Association, "because of other risks, the benefit isn't great enough to recommend drinking alcohol if you don't do so already." If you have high cholesterol and you don't drink, don't start.

    Omega-3 Fats

    • Omega-3 fatty acids are good fats that the body cannot produce on its own. These can be found in cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel. According to the Mayo Clinic, fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids can help promote heart health.

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