When it comes to high cholesterol levels, what can you do? Can losing weight lower your cholesterol? Get tips on losing weight.
According to the CDC, almost 94 million adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol, a condition that increases the risk for heart disease. Moreover, being overweight is one of the factors that lead to high blood cholesterol levels due to the body’s fat metabolism changes.
However, by reaching a moderate weight, you may be able to reduce your cholesterol levels and risk of certain conditions. The following is an overview of cholesterol and obesity – and how losing weight can help improve your health.
Cholesterol and Your Health
The desirable number for cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL of blood. Borderline high is between 200 and 239 mg/dL and high is 240 mg/dL or more. While cholesterol is essential for the body, too much of a certain type (LDL cholesterol) can lead to problems. For example, high LDL levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and more.
There are also certain risk factors that increase your risk for high cholesterol besides being overweight or having obesity. These risk factors include smoking, family history, sedentary lifestyles, hypertension, age (being older than 45 years old), and diabetes.
However, obesity can negatively impact your cholesterol health by increasing your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels. Overweight individuals also have higher levels of pro-inflammatory compounds that can change how the body regulates lipid metabolism. As a result, your triglyceride count increases and so does your blood cholesterol reading.
Lowering Your Cholesterol
Fortunately, you can decrease your triglyceride numbers and cholesterol by reaching and maintaining a moderate weight. You should also avoid other harmful practices like smoking, as this can lower your “good” HDL cholesterol levels. Furthermore, your healthcare provider can prescribe medications called statins if necessary to help lower your cholesterol.
If you need help losing weight, start by eating a balanced diet full of fiber, fresh fruits, vegetables, and more. You should also consider reducing your serving sizes, caloric intake, processed and fried foods, excess sugar, and saturated fat. Finally, follow the American Heart Association’s guidelines for exercise by working out at least 150 minutes per week.
The Outlook
Since high cholesterol doesn’t generally cause any symptoms, it’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. For this reason, you need to stay on top of your health by getting your levels checked with a blood test.
You can also give your health an extra boost by taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients can effectively promote your circulation, blood pressure health, cholesterol health, and more. Give your cholesterol health the support it deserves by losing weight and taking L-arginine Plus.