Trinity Cholesterol

Life is a balancing act. You need to find a healthy middle ground and enjoy things in moderation. A lifestyle with balance includes a heart-healthy diet and exercise plan that will keep your total cholesterol from reaching dangerous levels.

To bring down cholesterol levels to a safe number, minimize your intake of saturated fats. You’ll find these fats in many processed foods, deep-fried foods, and some meat and dairy products.

Your new best friends—fruits and fish! In the battle against high cholesterol, enlist plenty of fruits, fish, and fiber-rich foods. Fiber-soluble foods include oatmeal, bananas, apples, and beans.

Avoid foods high in sodium (salt), trans fats, and cholesterol when planning your meals. A healthy goal is no more than one teaspoon of salt per day. Instead, reach for heart-healthy spice alternatives like garlic powder, black pepper, or Italian seasoning.

When putting together a diet for your specific health goals, consider a meal plan for your week a vital ally. Pre-scheduling meals helps you plan shopping trips, so you don’t meander down the snack cake aisle in the grocery store.

Work with your doctor or nutritionist to put together a meal plan, or use online tools and apps that show you the nutritional value of the recipes you enjoy. Meal planning takes more time upfront but will save you time and hassle throughout your week.

Incorporate walking or cycling into your daily to-do list. If you haven’t been exercising regularly, make sure you work up to new physical activity goals steadily and deliberately. Going too hard too fast can cause injuries and additional setbacks in reaching your lower-cholesterol goal.

Healthy exercise keeps your heart strong and happy and works to lower your high cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat).

Each body has its own dietary and physical exercise needs. What works for others may not work for your age, activity level, other health conditions, or lifestyle.

If you want to take a stand against high cholesterol and take control of your health, schedule an appointment at Trinity Medical Center today. Call (256) 482-1505 to speak with a health professional.