Simple Tips to Achieve Healthy Cholesterol Levels

September 25th, 2010 by Jamie

Simple Tips to Achieve Healthy Cholesterol Levels As people age, it is very important to pay attention to the cholesterol levels in order to prevent having medical conditions such as ...

Simple Tips to Achieve Healthy Cholesterol Levels

As people age, it is very important to pay attention to the cholesterol levels in order to prevent having medical conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery diseases, and other heart conditions.

In general, not all cholesterol is bad. Healthy cholesterol or High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is needed by the body while unhealthy cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) should be limited in order to prevent having medical conditions.

According to the American Heart Association, the range of cholesterol intake should be less than 200 mg/dL. This level is considered as healthy eating. On the other hand, 200 – 240 mg/dL intake of cholesterol is already considered as borderline high level of cholesterol. Consuming more than 24o mg/dL of cholesterol per day is already unhealthy.

If you would like to improve your cholesterol levels and maintain it within the normal levels, there are some foods that can help you. Here is a short list of the foods that can improve the levels of your cholesterol:

Olive Oil

Olive oil contains antioxidants that can help in lowering the LDL in the body. Two teaspoons of olive oil per day is recommended by the Food and Drug Administration.

Fish

There are certain fishes that contain fatty acids that can greatly help your heart in numerous ways. Examples of these fishes would include salmon, mackerel, and tuna.

Almonds and Walnuts

Almonds and walnuts are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These polyunsaturated fatty acids can help in lowering the levels of unhealthy cholesterol.

Adding these foods to your diet can help in improving the levels of cholesterol in your body. Aside from these, it is also recommended to have a regular exercise and decrease your consumption of calories in order to improve your overall health.