Essential Quick Tips for a Healthy Heart and a Longer, Happier Life

Cholesterol has been found to be the master key to a healthy heart and long life

I know you're probably getting tired of hearing the word cholesterol. Cholesterol, cholesterol, cholesterol. It's all you hear any more when talking about heart-health and longevity. Unfortunately, with god reason.

The more research I do, the more that heart-health and longevity point to cholesterol.

The only difference I've found to conventional, mainstream advice regarding a healthy heart and living longer is not about the importance of cholesterol, but about cholesterol itself. How it works is a lot different in reality to how we used to think it works. And how to make it work for you is even more different to how we used to react to it.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Your body needs a small amount of cholesterol to function properly. But we may get too much saturated fat and cholesterol in our diet -- and both raise levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in arteries, leading to heart disease. HDL "good" cholesterol, on the other hand, helps clear bad cholesterol from your blood. You want to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol, starting with your diet.

Simple Steps to Lower Cholesterol

Has your doctor said you have high cholesterol (called hypercholesterolemia)? Then you know you need to change your diet and lifestyle to lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Even if your doctor prescribed a cholesterol drug to bring levels down, you'll still need to change your diet and become more active for cardiovascular health. These simple tips can help you keep cholesterol levels in check.

Start Your Day With Whole Grains

A bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal has benefits that last all day. The fiber and complex carbohydrates in whole grains help you feel fuller for longer, so you'll be less tempted to overeat at lunch. They also help reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol and can be an important part of your weight loss strategy. Other examples of whole grains include wild rice, popcorn, brown rice, barley, and whole-wheat flour.

Portion Control: Give Yourself a Hand

Most Americans eat super-sized meals, with portions that are twice the size recommended for good health. That can contribute to weight gain and high cholesterol. Here's an easy way to practice portion control for a meal: Use your hand. One serving of meat or fish is about what fits in the palm of your hand. One serving of fresh fruit is about the size of your fist. And a serving of cooked vegetables, rice, or pasta should fit in your cupped hand.

Eat Heart-Healthy Food

Load your plate with fruits and vegetables -- five to nine servings a day -- to help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol. Antioxidants in these foods may provide the benefit. Or it may be that when we eat more fruits and veggies, we eat less fatty foods. Either way, you'll also help lower blood pressure and maintain a healthy weight. Foods enriched with plant sterols, such as some margarine spreads, yogurts, and other foods, can also help lower LDL cholesterol.

Look to the Sea for a Healthy Heart

A heart-healthy diet has fish on the menu twice a week. Why? Fish is low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help lower levels of trigylcerides, a type of fat in the blood. They may also help lower cholesterol, slowing the growth of plaque in arteries. Go for fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, trout, and sardines. Just don't drop the filets in the deep fryer – you'll negate the health benefits.

Nuts are Good for Cardiovascular Health

Need a snack? A handful of nuts is a tasty treat that helps in lowering cholesterol. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fat, which lowers LDL "bad" cholesterol while leaving HDL "good" cholesterol intact. Several studies show that people who eat about an ounce of nuts a day have lower risk of heart disease. Nuts are high in fat and calories, so only eat a handful. And make sure they're not covered in sugar or chocolate.

Unsaturated Fats Protect the Heart

We all need a little fat in our diet – about 25% to 35% of our daily calories. But the type of fat matters. Unsaturated fats -- like those found in canola, olive, and safflower oils -- help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol levels and may help raise HDL "good" cholesterol. Saturated fats -- like those found in butter and palm oil -- and trans fats raise LDL cholesterol. Even good fats have calories, so eat in moderation.

Fewer Potatoes and More Beans

You need carbohydrates for energy, but some do your body more good than others. Whole grains, such as brown rice or quinoa, whole-wheat pasta, and beans have more fiber and raise sugar levels less. These help lower cholesterol and keep you feeling full longer. Other carbs, like those found in white bread, white potatoes, white rice, and pastries, boost blood sugar levels more quickly, leading you to feel hungry sooner, and may increase risk for overeating.

Move It and Loose It

Even 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week (20 minutes three times a week for vigorous exercise, such as jogging) can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol – although more exercise is even better. It also helps you maintain an ideal weight, reducing your chance of developing clogged arteries. You don't have to exercise for 30 minutes straight – you can break it up into 10-minute increments.

Walk It Off

If you're not used to exercising – or hate the thought of going to a gym – just go for a walk. It's easy, healthy, and all you need is a good pair of shoes. Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise such as walking lowers risk of stroke and heart disease, helps you lose weight, and keeps bones strong. If you're just starting out, try a 10-minute walk and gradually build up from there.

Work Out Without Going to the Gym

If exercise sounds like a dirty word to you, here's some good news: You can boost your heart health by incorporating physical activity into your day. Any kind of cardiovascular activity counts – gardening, dancing, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Even housework can qualify as exercise – as long as you're doing serious cleaning that gets your heart rate up and not just light dusting.

Take Charge of Your Health

If you have high cholesterol, you and your doctor may be using a number of strategies to lower cholesterol levels. You may be working on your diet, losing weight, exercising more, and maybe taking cholesterol drugs. There are other actions you can take, too, to make sure you stay on the right track.

What to Do When Eating Out

If you're eating healthy food at home to keep cholesterol in check, don't blow it when you eat out. Restaurant food can be loaded with saturated fat, calories, and sodium. Even healthy choices may come in super-size portions. Try these tips to stay on track:

• Choose broiled, baked, steamed, and grilled foods – not fried.
• Get sauces on the side.
• Practice portion control by asking for half your meal to be boxed up before it’s brought out.
• Look for Hidden Traps
• A close look at nutrition labels is essential for a low-cholesterol, heart-healthy diet. Try these tips:
• Check serving sizes. The nutrition info may look good, but does the package contain two servings instead of one?
• If it says "whole grain," read the ingredients. Whole wheat or whole grain should be the first one.
• A food with "0 grams cholesterol" could still raise your LDL cholesterol. Saturated fat is the other culprit to watch for.

Don't Stress about the Little Things

Chronic stress can raise blood pressure, adding to your risk of atherosclerosis, which occurs when plaque from cholesterol builds up in arteries. And research shows that for some people, stress might directly increase cholesterol levels. Reduce your stress levels with relaxation exercises, meditation, or biofeedback. Focus on your breathing and take deep, refreshing breaths. It's a simple stress-buster you can do anywhere.

Breathing Right

Learn how to breathe. Breathing right allows your body (and brain) to get the oxygen it desperately needs. Its no wonder a person can go days without water or food, but only minutes without oxygen.

Try using Breathe Right Nasal Strips at night. Using Breathe Right not ony helps you get more oxygen while you sleep at night, it also makes you feel more refreshed and energetic in the morning.

I will be posting an article about breath and breathing soon, but for now I recommend you download the FREE ebook, The Science of Breath, available from my AssEtEbooks.com website, without log-in, sign-up or obligations of any kind, on the Alternative Medicine page. Who knows, you might find some other free ebooks that interest you while you're at it.

Losing Means Winning

Losing weight is one of the best things you can do to fight cardiovascular disease. Being obese increases the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. These all affect the lining of your arteries, making them more prone to collect plaque from cholesterol. Losing weight -- especially belly fat, which is linked to hardening of the arteries, helping to raise HDL "good" cholesterol and reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol.

Follow Your Doctor's Advice

Managing your cholesterol is a lifelong process. See your doctor regularly to keep tabs on your health. Follow your doctor's recommendations on diet, exercise, and medication. Working together, you and your doctor can lower your cholesterol levels and keep your heart going strong.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Source: Lowering Cholesterol Slideshow: 15 Tips for Avoiding Heart Disease - webmd.com