| Many people are walking around, feeling absolutely | | | | foods should be avoided. Sorry, ice cream is on |
| wonderful, with a ticking time bomb lodged in their | | | | the list. However, a yummy sorbet is not. |
| arteries. No, the explosive device will not literally | | | | Products containing saturated fat are contributors |
| blow a body to smithereens. However, the | | | | to the garbage pile. |
| probable concussion is capable of causing deadly | | | | Conversely, high fiber edibles can actually help |
| heart attacks and strokes. Until the volatile | | | | take some of the garbage away. For example, |
| situation is diffused, an individual is walking a | | | | oatmeal is advertised to help in lowering high |
| minefield of detonation apparatus. | | | | cholesterol. True! Certain foods basically absorb |
| The bomb is high cholesterol. Now, once found, | | | | excess cholesterol and carry the garbage away. |
| how can an individual rid the body of high | | | | Eating more fruits and vegetables, and consuming |
| cholesterol before time runs out? The answer is | | | | fish, rather than fatty red meats, are also healthy |
| easy; the solution is difficult. The first step to | | | | eating choices. If in doubt as to heart-healthy |
| lowering high cholesterol is developing new habits. | | | | foods, a family physician will be glad to give a |
| Although the answer is easy to state, the | | | | patient the needed information. |
| implementation is likely the most difficult | | | | Finally, do not be the preverbal couch potato. Get |
| undertaking of an individual's life, because the new | | | | into an exercise routine. If money is tight, and |
| habits require smoking cessation, maintaining a | | | | membership in a fitness club is not an option, do |
| heart-healthy diet, and developing an exercise | | | | not worry. Exercise is free. |
| routine. | | | | For examples, take a brisk walk every day; |
| First, a former smoker will freely admit, the | | | | instead of exercising the arms while holding small |
| addictive properties of tobacco products make | | | | weights, grab a couple cans of vegetables; or ride |
| quitting seem like self torture-for a time. Many will | | | | a bike. Many people join spas and clubs for the |
| also confess, success came after more than one | | | | motivational support. No problem! Friends and |
| attempt to break the habit. | | | | family are free. Start an epidemic of good health. |
| However, the initial price of denying an addiction, | | | | Get physically fit, together. |
| and beginning a new habit of improved health, is | | | | How can exercise contribute to lowering high |
| worth the investment. Outwardly, a person will | | | | cholesterol? The answer is relatively simple. |
| immediately cease smelling like a walking ashtray. | | | | Exercise builds muscles and burns fat. Coupled |
| Inwardly, the body begins the process to clear up | | | | with a healthy diet, cholesterol will not have the |
| the lungs, and improving circulation throughout the | | | | opportunity to collect on the artery walls, because |
| body. | | | | excess fat is being burned and exercise improves |
| So, what does smoking have to do with high | | | | circulation. |
| cholesterol? Plenty! Smoking actually causes the | | | | Physical fitness is a win-win situation. An individual |
| blood vessels to constrict. Now, imagine the | | | | will ultimately feel better, and the effort will |
| narrowing highways of blood circulating past | | | | become a valuable tool used to defuse the ticking |
| obstructions of plaque, or fatty deposits, in the | | | | time bomb called high cholesterol. |
| system. | | | | In summary, lowering high cholesterol is essential |
| Over time, if the obstructions are not removed, | | | | for good cardiovascular health. If a doctor |
| the highways of blood coursing through the body | | | | diagnosis unsafe cholesterol levels, an individual is |
| will eventually hit a total roadblock. Then, without | | | | essentially a ticking bomb waiting to be detonated. |
| warning an individual will suffer a debilitation/deadly | | | | Unless, and until, the health concern is addressed, |
| stroke or heart attack. Before a roadblock cuts | | | | the patient is a prime candidate for a heart attack |
| life short-quit smoking! Yes, now a person has one | | | | or stroke. In many cases, the patient has no |
| more compelling reason to stop subjecting the | | | | second chance to lower high cholesterol. So, do |
| body to tobacco. | | | | not ignore the numbers. Immediately, an individual |
| A second new habit to establish is a heart-healthy | | | | can take appropriate steps to begin lowering high |
| diet. The expression, "garbage in, garbage out" is | | | | cholesterol. First, quit smoking! Make the decision |
| appropriate to consider, when attempting to lower | | | | to do whatever it takes to break the addiction. |
| high cholesterol. Consuming garbage foods will | | | | Second, make the life-long choice to eat a healthy |
| ultimately create destructive waste in the veins, in | | | | low-fat diet. Trade in the cake and ice cream for |
| the form of high cholesterol. If the waste is not | | | | fruity desserts like sorbet. Last, build muscles and |
| removed, and steps are not taken to keep the | | | | increase cardiovascular health with regular |
| garbage from collecting again, an individual will likely | | | | exercise. Do not put off, until tomorrow, what |
| suffer the consequences of neglecting to lower | | | | should be done today. Create new habits. |
| high cholesterol. | | | | Otherwise, tomorrow may never come. |
| Now, what are garbage foods? Essentially, high fat | | | | |