Keeping cholesterol levels in check
MANY Malaysians have high cholesterol levels because of the unhealthy lifestyles that they lead.
High cholesterol is not like a cut or infection. It cannot be treated with a plaster and left forgotten. You need to be constantly mindful of your cholesterol levels so that healthy levels are maintained throughout your life. The ideal cholesterol level for a healthy adult is less than 5.2mmol/L.
How you can maintain your cholesterol levels
You will need to make a major change in your lifestyle. This includes changing your diet and engaging in more physical activities. These changes will effectively help lower your cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.
Even if your doctor has prescribed a cholesterollowering drug, you will still need to change your dietary patterns and live an active lifestyle as this will improve your overall cardiovascular health.
Here are some simple steps that can help keep your cholesterol levels in check:
Watch what you eat Reduce your consumption of foods that are high in cholesterol such as innards, deep-fried foods, eggs and shellfish. Next, increase your intake of foods that are high in fibre such as fruits, vegetables and wholegrains.
Also eat more foods that are high in unsaturated fats such as nuts and olive oil, which are considered the “healthy” fats and are encouraged as part of a healthy diet.
Increasing your consumption of these foods will greatly reduce your risk of contracting heart disease.
What is Acticol?
Acticol is made up of plant sterols. Plant sterols are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals and legumes. Plant sterols also have similar molecular structures as cholesterol.
Plant sterols help block the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract.
Without plant sterol, cholesterol can be easily absorbed keep your bones strong. Start with a 10-minute walk and you can increase your workout intensity from there.
Be responsible for your health
If you have high cholesterol levels, there are a number of steps that you can take to help lower your cholesterol levels.
These include improving your diet, losing weight and exercising regularly.
Your doctor will advise if you are required to take any cholesterol-lowering medication.
Working out a daily diet plan and exercise plan can help you stay on track.
You can also nominate a friend or a family member to be your motivator to help you get through it.
You should remember that even though your cholesterol levels can be lowered, it can increase just as easily if you continue your old habits of not watching your diet and not exercising.
The key to a healthy heart starts with you managing your cholesterol levels every day.