6 Tips to Keep Your Cholesterol Levels Healthy

High cholesterol can be a tricky problem to solve, but with a multi-tiered approach you can see positive results and have improved overall health as a result. Here are some steps you can take to get your cholesterol back where it needs to be, and keep it there.

#1: Think Proactively

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and in this case it is much easier to avoid cholesterol problems than it is to get rid of them once they occur. If you don't currently have bad cholesterol levels you’ll want to make sure you keep them where they need to be so that you can avoid the problems that often occur with high cholesterol levels.

You can adopt the following lifestyle changes regardless of where your cholesterol levels are, and they will naturally correct themselves over time, as needed.

#2: Make Dietary Changes

One of the hardest steps for many is changing up their diet so that it’s more cholesterol-friendly and full of foods that will help the cause rather than hurt it. If you can get a handle on this aspect of the problem, you'll be taking a large stride toward not needing to use medication to have proper cholesterol levels.

Foods that help boost good cholesterol include green veggies, nuts, avocado, olive oil, salmon, and green tea. Increase foods like these while decreasing red meat, fried food , and foods high in saturated fat (especially trans fats).

#3: Get Fit and Stay Fit

Losing any excess weight can go a long way in helping your cholesterol. This is often easier said than done, but it all starts with baby steps. Your strategy should be to do something everyday that puts you one step closer to your goal.

Sometimes diet and exercise isn’t enough to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, So be sure to talk with your doctor if you’ve been eating more healthy and getting more exercise but your cholesterol isn't budging.

#4: Focus On The Fiber

Fiber is definitely your ally in the fight against bad cholesterol. When you eat it, it whisks away the excess cholesterol in your body and sends it through the digestive system so you can eliminate it from your body. Most of us do not get the recommended daily serving of fiber, which is why you'll likely need to add more fibrous foods to your diet that help get you there.

#5: Stop Smoking

If you smoke, quitting can be the number one thing you can do to help your overall health as well as your cholesterol levels. Smoking can exacerbate the problems associated with high cholesterol, is a leading contributor to lung cancer and can also contribute to heart disease and several other maladies. Take steps today to quit smoking, and never quit quitting.

#6: Make It Second Nature

The last tip you'll need is to make all of the previous tips automatic. You should strive to get to the point where you don't have to think about them anymore, you just do them as part of your daily routine. Over time, these small changes can lead to big results and you won't have to worry about the negative repercussions of having high cholesterol.