What Reducing LDL Cholesterol Can Do for Your Health

If you are at risk of suffering from heart attack, your doctor may give you instructions for reducing LDL cholesterol levels. What does it mean for your health if you have low LDL?

Having High LDL

Like most ailments, researchers are still beginning to discover the true nature of heart disease and its connection to cholesterol. It is clear however that having too much LDL in the blood and arteries may increase the risk of heart attack. Although this is by no means the only indication of possible future heart attack episodes, it is by far the most important indicator. Recent research supports the idea that reducing LDL cholesterol levels especially among at risk individuals can help prevent deaths due to heart attacks. Ways of reducing LDL cholesterol may also help increase HDL cholesterol levels which is also an ideal goal.

Guidelines

In the past, it was believed that it was already sufficient to focus on reducing LDL cholesterol and setting them at 130 md/dL even among high risk individuals. It has since been discovered however that the rate of reducing LDL cholesterol and the ideal level should depend on an individual’s chances of suffering from heart attack in 10 years. Individuals who are at a very high risk should work on reducing LDL cholesterol levels to less than 100 mg/dL and if possible lower than 70 md/dL. High risk individuals on the other hand should work on reducing LDL cholesterol to less than 100 mg/dL while those who are at moderately high risk should reduce to less than 130 mg/dL or even less than 100 mg/dL. Those who have a low risk of heart attack may work on reducing LDL cholesterol levels to less than 160 mg/dL or ideally less than 130 mg/dL.

Medication

Some doctors now believe that medication for reducing LDL cholesterol in very high risk individuals should be used aggressively. This does not mean however that the basic concepts of proper diet and exercise should be ignored. Chances are, even with the proper medication, you could still increase your risk of heart attack if you continue to binge on saturated fats, smoke and have unhealthy habits.

Natural Ways

For those who are moderately at risk of suffering from heart attack, the natural ways of reducing LDL cholesterol are still the best solutions. Aerobic exercise in particular reduces over all body fat thereby lowering LDL cholesterol. You should also maintain a healthy diet while keeping away from junk food and fatty foods. You can also ask your doctor about the possibility of taking supplements to help you maintain appropriate cholesterol levels. Products with garlic and phytoesterols for example may be helpful.

Reading Labels

Some people seem to think that bold labels that claim to have low cholesterol are automatically good products. You should however check back labels and nutritional facts properly. There are products that may still contain saturated or trans fats. Avoid these fats as much as possible. You may instead explore the possibility of substituting unhealthy fats with moderate amounts of monounsaturated fats. Instead of using hydrogenated cooking oil for example, you may instead use olive or sesame oil.