Looking for ways to improve your cholesterol? Here are some of the best exercise habits to help lower your cholesterol.
While cholesterol may get a bad reputation, the truth is you actually need some to produce healthy cells. However, too much cholesterol can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, you can give a healthy boost to your levels through regular exercise.
Cholesterol and Your Health
According to the Mayo Clinic, high cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in your arteries, reduce circulation, and even cause a blood clot that results in a heart attack or stroke. While genetics and medical conditions can lead to high cholesterol, a lot of people have it due to poor lifestyle choices.
According to Dr. Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, CPH, MWC, ELS, high cholesterol doesn’t really present any warning signs or symptoms. “The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to get a blood test,” says Bohl.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults 20 years of age and older get cholesterol screenings every four to six years. Moreover, other factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, genetics, and age may help your doctor predict your chances of developing high cholesterol.
Improving Cholesterol with Aerobic Exercise
“Often, the type of exercise recommended for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease is aerobic exercise,” says Bohl. “This can include fast walking, jogging, running, biking, and swimming.”
Now that winter is over and summer is on the horizon, it is easier than ever to go outside and incorporate some of these activities into your routine. Regardless of whether you exercise by yourself or work out with a group of friends, what matters is that you do it.
Resistance Training and Yoga
While aerobic exercise is the go-to for improving cholesterol, strength training with free weights, bands, or machines can also enhance your routine. Moreover, Bohl explains that “studies show that doing yoga can reduce LDL, which is commonly known as ‘bad’ cholesterol.”
By combining your aerobic workouts with strength training and yoga, you’ll go a long way to improving your cholesterol health. Furthermore, you can multiply this effect by exercising at least 150 minutes per week (or 75 minutes if you opt for high-intensity training).
The Outlook
By exercising on a regular basis, you can help lower your bad cholesterol levels and increase your good cholesterol. You can also pair this with a healthy diet, stress management, and a limit on poor habits like smoking and drinking too much.
In addition, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients effectively promote cholesterol health, circulation, blood pressure health, and more. Give your health the support it deserves by exercising regularly and taking L-arginine Plus.