Veggie Blog

Exercise and cholesterol: how physical activity helps

Cholesterol is a substance found in every human body. It is one of the many things the body produces in order to function properly.

Unfortunately, a diet high in sugar, saturated fat and alcohol can do more harm than good. Over time it raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

The good news is that there are ways to prevent this before it happens. It takes some effort and hard work, especially as the body becomes less forgiving with age.

Why exercise helps

Along with eating less and improving your diet, exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve your cholesterol. Regular activity raises your heart rate, helps with weight control, raises HDL (the good cholesterol) and can modestly lower LDL and triglycerides.

Getting started safely

Those who have not exercised before should first talk to a doctor to find out what is safe. People with a heart condition may not be able to do strenuous exercise and may need low-impact activities such as walking, stretching or light weights.

If the doctor says the patient can do more intense exercise, options include running, swimming, aerobics and cycling. The right type of activity depends on several factors, not only medical history, but also gender, age and weight.

The doctor can recommend an activity, and the person can pass this on to a fitness instructor so they know what is safe. From there, an exercise program can be made, and all the patient has to do is follow it.

After a month or two, there are often improvements in good and bad cholesterol levels, as well as some weight loss.

Exercise works best together with a healthy diet, and it does not replace medication. If your doctor has prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug, keep taking it and ask before making changes; for many people, medicine and exercise work together to lower cholesterol.

Easy ways to be more active

If you do not have time to go to a gym, there are other ways to work your muscles and raise your heart rate. For starters, you can go for a brisk walk early in the morning or before work.

Some companies and hospitals encourage people to walk up one or two flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator. If your workplace has a big parking lot, you can park a little further from the door and walk the extra distance.

During any exercise, it is best to drink plenty of water. This prevents dehydration, which can lead to exhaustion. Instead of going to the fountain every few minutes, bring a water bottle.

This saves time and lets you keep pace with the group activity or the work you are doing on the machine.

Someone once said that health is wealth. By exercising, you can improve your cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease, unlike those who know the dangers but never make any lifestyle changes.