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Another prevailing and incorrect view concerning lower cholesterol, is that only older people need worry about their cholesterol levels. The reality is that having a predisposition to high cholesterol and heart disease are genetically influenced factors.
High cholesterol levels can stalk even young men who are in seemingly good shape and otherwise take care of themselves.
Indeed,
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute advocates that young, middle-aged, and older men lower cholesterol levels, whether it be to prevent heart disease, or because they already have it.
Therefore it's important to know your family history and, accordingly, take necessary preventative steps to lower cholesterol and ensure health of your heart for many years to come.
But what exactly is this "silent killer" known as cholesterol?
It is important to understand that cholesterol itself is essential to good health.
Cholesterol is a non-soluble waxy substance that your body needs for making hormones, cell walls and nerve sheaths.
However, there are two forms of cholesterol. One form is called LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) -- or "bad" cholesterol -- and other is HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) -- or "good" cholesterol.
LDL transports cholesterol to your cells, whereas HDL travels around in your bloodstream picking up excess cholesterol and taking it back to your liver for reprocessing, functioning as a "garbage collector" of sorts.
Too much LDL creates risk of clogging up your arteries, which can lead to heart failure or stroke; too little HDL will result in same problem due to inadequate "housekeeping."
Therefore, most important figure to examine is not your total cholesterol per se, but ratio between LDL and HDL readings, and levels of each type. You want LDL as low as possible and HDL as high as possible.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that everyone over 20 have their cholesterol checked every five years. For optimal health, total cholesterol should be less than 200, whereas LDL cholesterol remains at less than 100, and HDL greater than 60.
For more information on how to lower your cholesterol please visit:
http://www.man-health-fitness-solutions.com/lower-cholesterol.html
Phil Beckett is the President & C.E.O of Physique Concepts Inc. and is the author of 3 very popular and successful health & fitness books and designs customized strength training, flexibility training, weight loss and cardiovascular exercise programs. He has trained and educated more than 3000 clients all ages, interests, and limitations, in health, fitness and nutrition, both on-line and off-line for more than 15 years.
