SearchExclusive.com

HDL cholesterol levels: All you need to know about the good cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present in our bodies. Having too much of it is dangerous as it can lead to heart attacks. The extra cholesterol that is left in the body, piles up in the blood vessels and tends to create blockages which in turn disrupts the normal blood flow. This is why it is necessary to keep your cholesterol in check.

Your cholesterol level is determined by the amount of it being present in your blood. There are two types of cholesterol, namely good and bad. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered as bad cholesterol for your health as it tends to block your blood vessels and arteries. While high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered as good cholesterol for your health as it protects you from heart diseases. In the following, we will look into the good cholesterol, i.e., HDL in detail:

What is HDL cholesterol?
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is considered to be the good cholesterol, and it ensures that the blood flow in your body is smooth and normal. Higher HDL cholesterol levels reduce the risk of heart attacks and other heart-related diseases. It takes LDL or the bad cholesterol out from your blood and also prevents it from building up in your arteries. You can increase your HDL cholesterol level by following a healthy lifestyle and by exercising.

HDL cholesterol levels
It is recommended to have an HDL cholesterol level of 45 milligrams per deciliter or higher as 40–45 milligrams per deciliter is the borderline HDL cholesterol level. You do not have to worry about increasing it, although doing so will definitely help you. However, if it is less than 40, then it is important you increase the level to at least 45. In the following sections are some ways of increasing your HDL cholesterol levels.

How to boost HDL cholesterol levels?
There are many ways by which you can enhance the level of good cholesterol in your blood. Some of them are:

Eating healthy
Immersed fat and cholesterol in your food can make your bad cholesterol level go up. Make sure that you eat healthy and include a lot of fruits and veggies in your diet. Moreover, intake of healthy fat is important. Therefore, you should eat fish and nuts; you can also include salmon and tuna in your diet. Opt for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and eat them in small portions.

Control your weight
Being overweight can be one of the main causes of coronary illnesses. It additionally tends to expand the level of bad cholesterol in your body. Getting more fit can help bring down your LDL, and in addition, raise your HDL cholesterol levels and lower your triglyceride levels.

Physical activity
Regular exercise can enhance HDL cholesterol levels in your body. General physical activity can help bring down LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily to stay fit and healthy.

Quit smoking
Smoking is strictly prohibited if you want to raise your HDL cholesterol level. Try quitting it, if you still haven’t. It will just not increase the level of good cholesterol in your body but also make you physically healthier.

Factors affecting your cholesterol levels
Apart from the above, there are other factors that affect your cholesterol level, be it good or bad. Some of them are:

Age and gender: As a general rule, your bad cholesterol level will rise with your age, unless you take measures to control it. In women, LDL level rises after menopause.
Heredity: Your genes decide how much cholesterol your body makes, to some extent. If you have high cholesterol levels running in your family, you’ll most likely have it running in your blood too.
Smoking: This is one of the most dangerous habits that can lead to cancer as well and will increase the level of bad cholesterol in your body which is harmful.
High blood pressure: Your BP also determines the risk of having high cholesterol level which is bad for your body. A higher blood pressure that ranges from 140/90 mmHg or higher can contribute to increasing LDL.

How to measure cholesterol levels?
Get your cholesterol levels checked at regular intervals, after the age of 20. A simple blood test called a lipoprotein board can help indicate whether you’re at a risk of getting coronary illnesses. Get your blood tested for cholesterol level immediately to know where you stand.

For quite a long time, cholesterol has been a noteworthy issue for a large number of individuals worldwide. The fear of high cholesterol levels in the blood has prompted people to go to experts like doctors and nutritionists.

Coronary illness and other devastating ailments like atherosclerosis have become more common than ever. More than 25% of the number of inhabitants in the US suffer from high cholesterol levels. Get your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels checked and do the necessary to bring the levels to a normal range in order to enjoy a healthy life.

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.