Cholesterol is a vital element for tissue growth, repair and hence the health of your body. Cholesterol comes in a variety of combinations. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll get to know the basics of the two which are critical for our health. These are HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. HDL stands for “high density lipoprotein” and LDL stands for “low density lipoprotein”. The HDL cholesterol combination is good for the body, whereas the LDL cholesterol has a negative effect on our health. The body has its own mechanism to regulate the quantities of these two cholesterol combinations for optimum health. The balance of these two types of cholesterol is vital for our health, and directly affects our chances of suffering from heart disease.

In layman terms, the HDL cholesterol sweeps away the unhealthy LDL cholesterol. Hence we should strive to keep up the level of HDL cholesterol to maintain our health.

Cholesterol levels can be controlled using chemical intervention in the form of medicines. This is an emergency solution, not a long term solution. Natural, holistic therapies are preferred for cholesterol control. Cardiovascular exercise is the prime example of such therapy. This exercise improves the blood circulation. The improved blood circulation means firstly, more health and secondly, better elimination of harmful wastes like LDL cholesterol.

Cardiovascular exercise must be done regularly for it to be effective. The American Heart Association’s recommendation is very simple: just put in 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day. You can even do it in stages. There is another opinion, led by Dr. Mercola, who says that one hour of cardiovascular exercise is necessary and that too at one go.

To help your HDL cholesterol to remain at a healthy level, you should not have any food which contains heavy amounts of LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats as food items or as cooking medium are notorious in this regard. Omega-3 and mono-unsaturated oils and fats are good for HDL cholesterol.

New research has revealed the beneficial effect of omega-3 fats on HDL cholesterol. Fish are rich in omega-3 fats, notably salmon and tuna. You may also get your regular supply of omega-3 fats from formulated supplements. Margarine is bad for your HDL cholesterol, as are processed foods, and ones that are sugary and creamy. Regular cardiovascular exercise and dietary control will help your HDL cholesterol to regain the upper hand over LDL cholesterol.

Dietary watch apart, the other lifestyle activities that can affect your HDL cholesterol are smoking and obesity. Stop smoking. Smoking decreases the HDL cholesterol in the blood. Obesity raises the LDL cholesterol level in the blood. Obesity due to incorrect dietary habits can be taken care of by following the dietary watch advised above. Obesity due to a sedentary lifestyle can be controlled by regular resistance exercises such as those that you get in a fitness center.

One more question on the subject of lifestyle: Are you a bundle of nerves? If yes, then you must get a hold of yourself immediately. Stress can trigger your LDL cholesterol to shoot through the roof and that can mean an imminent heart attack or stroke! Implement stress management techniques. It’s very simple really, really! Be prepared for the stress attack before it attacks. When you see Bob walking in, you psyche yourself into playing it cool. After Bob plays himself out, you’ll find that you’re not the one who’s stressed, Bob is!

Your primer for healthy HDL cholesterol levels reads like this: A is for cardiovascular exercise, B is for dietary control, and C is for modifying your lifestyle. With healthy HDL cholesterol coursing through your body you can count on a healthy life free of heart disease.

To learn more about ways you can reduce cholesterol go to www.Reduce-High-Cholesterol.com. You’ll come across short cuts to lower cholesterol naturally, and find out why getting a cholesterol test now may save your life.