There's a lot you can do to help manage your cholesterol and triglycerides

Various factors can cause unhealthy cholesterol levels. Some of the factors like heredity, age, and gender cannot be changed, but most can be modified. Here are the top three lifestyle changes that can help you manage cholesterol:

• Improving Diet

  Diets with too much saturated fat (found mostly in foods that come from animals), trans fat (found mostly in food made with hydrogenated oils and fats like french fries) and cholesterol (which comes only from animal products) are the main cause for high levels of blood cholesterol.

• Losing Weight

  Excess weight tends to increase your LDL level. Also, it typically raises triglycerides, a fatty substance in the blood and in food, and lowers HDL.  Losing the extra pounds may help lower your LDL and triglycerides, while raising your HDL.

• Becoming More Active

  Regular physical activity can raise HDL, lower triglycerides, and can help you lose weight that helps you lower your LDL.

Other changes can help too.

If diet and excercise are not enough to manage your cholesterol and triglycerides, your doctor may also recommend medication. There are other things you can do to help manage your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, including limiting or eliminating certain elements in your diet or lifestyle, such as:

• Carbohydrates – A diet high in carbohydrates (60% or higher of calories) can contribute to high triglycerides and low HDL.
  
  
• Alcohol – While moderate use can actually elevate HDL levels, drinking too much alcohol (more than one drink a day for women and two a day for men) can have serious health consequences. It can damage the heart and liver, and it can contribute to both high triglycerides and high blood pressure.
  
  
• Cigarette Smoking – Cigarette smoking is one of the factors that may raise triglycerides and lower HDL.

Remember: It is essential to check with your doctor before starting any type of diet or exercise program.