Diamond Author
Most of us have heard of cholesterol risk and at least try to stay away from the fatty wax like substance as much as possible. Nevertheless, high cholesterol risk foods are all around us and in many ways have become an intricately woven part of our daily lives.
For example when we go to a restaurant serving either Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican foods most can't resist the deep fried high cholesterol risk chips along with that tasty cheese dip. When we order a delicious pizza most of us will load is up with high cholesterol sausage, salami, and extra cheese.
Why does it matter anyway?
When consumed often enough high cholesterol risk foods such as the ones listed above can contribute to such series conditions as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. I believe you would agree this is not a list of health disorders most would want to be associated with.
Why does this happen?
Cholesterol has an important role to play in overall health but when too much cholesterol is circulating in the bloodstream it roughs up the interior lining of our arteries and forms the basis for arterial plaque deposits.
Arterial plaque is a combination of cholesterol, dead cell, fibrous tissue, and calcium that builds inside the artery wall causing blood flow to be restricted. As to what symptoms occur, much depends on where the plaque deposit/deposits form.
If plaque forms in one of the coronary arteries chest pain (angina) is a common symptom along with fatigue. If it is in one of the arteries leading to the brain, mental function starts to wane and opens the door for a stroke. If not enough blood is circulating through the kidneys, fluid will build around the ankles or in the lungs (edema).
As you can see once the potential cholesterol risk has come home to roost things can go bad in a hurry!
What can be done to make sure this doesn't happen to me?
Certainly, there are no assurances especially since many experts now believe that arterial plaque deposits caused by high cholesterol begin to form as early as the age of 6, but there are a number of steps to improve the odds of not having a cardiovascular disaster take place.
Along these lines most don't want to sacrifice many of their guilty pleasures for the sake of heart and artery health. I do understand!
Below I will lay out the steps my family and I have taken over the last few years to reduce our cholesterol risk and cholesterol levels. Hopefully, you can find a morsel or two of wisdom that you can implement into your daily routine as well.
*Buy a low fat grill: We all love our meat but most meats contain large amounts of dangerous artery clogging, cholesterol risk boosting, saturated fat. So my solution was to try to cook out as much as the fat as possible.
*Get fishy twice a week: The fatty acids in fish help to reduce cholesterol, heal arterial damage, and reduce inflammation. The best options are cold water fatty fish.
*Use olive oil when possible: Olive oil contain a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your bad cholesterol (LDL) while leaving your good cholesterol (HDL) unaffected.
*Soluble fiber: Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are high in soluble fiber which bind with cholesterol in the intestines and escort it out of the body.
*Get active and stay active: Activity raises good cholesterol (HDL), lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and lowers early stage blood fats (triglycerides). The American Heart Association suggest daily exercise last for 30 minutes or longer but also points out that you should get your doctors okay first.
*Don't lose track of your waistline: Excess weight will make that extra cholesterol you may be consuming as a guilty pleasure even more dangerous. So if you have packed on a few pounds lately consider getting rid of them before that excess cholesterol in your arteries springs a nasty surprise on you one day.
*Don't ignore supplements: Fish oil, vitamin B complex, and natural cholesterol reduction supplements are all affordable natural choices worth considering when the goal is to reduce cholesterol risk.
About this Author
Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field. To learn more about Cholesterol, along with safe and effective natural remedies for managing high cholesterol Click Here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_D._Hawkins
