What's The Cause of High Cholesterol Levels?
Blood cholesterol levels are caused by many different factors, some of which are: consumption of saturated fat, carbohydrate intake, and individual levels of physical activity.
A diet high in trans fatty acids, saturated fats and cholesterol contribute to high levels of serum cholesterol and animal products like veal, beef, lamb, pork, dairy products and lard. Also whole fats found in cream, butter, cheese and other whole milk products have these fats.
Oil And Your Cholesterol Level
High amounts of saturated fat are also found in some tropical plants. Like coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil and cocoa butter. Use these products at your own risk! Canola oil and olive oils are much better alternatives and they can even lower your cholesterol level because they contain healthy polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats.
Choose lean poultry, fish and fat-free or low fat dairy products instead of eating hamburgers and pork chops. Another food that can lower cholesterol and LDL levels is oat meal.
What About Exercise?
Thirty minutes a day of aerobic activity will also make a big difference, and can significantly lower total cholesterol levels. Also, you should consult your health care provider about a proper diet and exercise plan, and monitor cholesterol levels regularly to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and keep heart healthy.
less than 200 mg/dL is a healthy total cholesterol level, but many people have levels much higher than this. As this number gets above 200 mg/dL the heart attack risk increases, and if high cholesterol goes unchecked for a long period of time, it could prove fatal.
What Should You Do If You Are At Risk?
So, if you are at high risk you should make lifestyle changes such as increasing levels of activity by regular aerobic exercise and limit intake of saturated fats to 7-10% or less of your total daily calorie intake.