How To Control Your Cholesterol

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat (also called a lipid) found in the blood and every cell in the body. It plays a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning of cells. Still, too much cholesterol can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

How Much Is Too Much Cholesterol?

Living with type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. So your cholesterol level should be lower than if you didn’t live with diabetes. Your doctor should order a blood test at least twice yearly to measure your cholesterol levels. Be sure to ask what your results are so you can track your progress.

What Is The Origin Of Cholesterol?

Our bodies produce most cholesterol, but some of it is converted by the liver from the saturated fat we consume. Changing our eating routine and lifestyle can help lower cholesterol levels by up to 10%.

Important Tips To Help Lower Your Cholesterol

1. Aim To Achieve A Healthy Weight And Waist Circumference

Being overweight and especially having more fat around your midsection increases your risk of heart disease. This can also increase your insulin resistance, one of the causes of Type 2 Diabetes. In addition to monitoring your weight, consider measuring your waist circumference.

2. Reduce Total Fat Consumption And Replace Saturated Fats With Unsaturated Fats

Reduce how often you eat high-fat foods and change the type of fat you eat, replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat.

3. Have (at least) 5-A-Day

Fruits, vegetables and all types of pulses and beans contain various vitamins, minerals and fibre that are important for our body to function. Fiber helps reduce total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL) by reducing the amount absorbed into the blood.

4. Do More Physical Activity

Physical activity can increase the good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. Ideally, five days of 30 minutes, although breaking them up into 10-minute sessions is still beneficial. You should consult your doctor before starting activities.

5. Quit Smoking

Smoking damages the walls of blood vessels, causing them to narrow and increase blood pressure. If you’re considering quitting smoking, talk to your doctor about methods that can help you right now.

Collagen is essential for our joints and cartilage. In addition to favoring the delay of aging and promoting more health in our skin, it helps us to avoid wrinkles, stretch marks and cellulite.

What Is Collagen

Collagen is a protein made naturally by the body. It contributes to the elasticity and strength of the skin, to the health of nails and hair and constitutes the fibers that support the body’s tissues.

Different types establish each activity of this protein. Type I collagen, for example, is part of the constitution of tendons and loose and dense connective tissue, while types X, XI and XII, in turn, participate in the formation of cartilage.

Here are the main benefits of this protein in our body:

Prevents Wrinkles And Stretch Marks

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in our body. It is responsible for supporting our cells, which help form cartilage, ligaments, bones, tendons and even the skin.

When this protein is deficient, the body has problems in the areas where it acts, causing inflammation in the joints, wrinkles and even stretch marks. Therefore, eating foods rich in collagen is very indicated in these cases.

Delays Skin Aging

Elastin gives tissue elasticity. It mainly appears in the lungs, large blood vessels, ligaments, and the skin. Elastin will bind to collagen fibers and thus prevent aging.

Even so, this process naturally intensifies after age 30. At this age, an enzyme that degrades these proteins begins to act. Thus, it becomes more essential to consume foods rich in these nutrients.

Healthy Skin For Longer

Collagen, by helping with tissue elasticity and resistance, leaves the skin healthy for longer. Vitamins, such as A, B and C, are beneficial for our body; combined with this protein, their effects last longer.

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