Naturally Lower Cholesterol - Get Moving!

So many of us baby-boomers are finding suddenly that we've added "High-Cholesterol" to our list of adjectives about ourselves. In this world of fast food, stressed working conditions, playing chauffeur to the kids, and trying to get everything done that needs doing, it is hard to add one more thing to our plates.

Most of us know that there are a several ways to lower cholesterol and some of us want the easiest, quickest method that requires almost no thinking on our part. Yes. We want to take a pill for it and just be done with it!

Unfortunately, that is the least healthy alternative. Unless you've tried to lower cholesterol naturally and failed, taking harsh chemicals in the form of prescription drugs is to be avoided at all costs.

Certainly, a combination of drugs and other methods to naturally reduce chemicals could be considered the number one method of getting rid of high cholesterol would be those associated with long-term life-style changes.

Easy Life-Style Changes

AH, I know you're probably thinking I must be crazy. How can you fit a life-style change into an already hective life? Well, that's part of the point -- stress increases the likelihood for high blood pressure, which when combined with high cholesterol is a heart attack in the making!

People say,"I can't slow down to do the things I know to do." Yes, it can be difficult to think about adding the healthy foods to the diet -- as they tend to be fresh, whole foods rather than processed foods. But heart healthy foods don't need to take a long time to prepare. There is a lot more about heart healthy eating in other articles I've written.

Today, I want to talk about moving more -- yep, getting some exercise! If you've got high cholesterol, you probably are not getting enough time with your heart rate at an aerobic level -- am I right? Since exercise is one of the best things you can do to ward off heart disease - you've probably already reduced any potential for high cholesterol naturally.

Just Move More

Now like anything else, there are exceptions to this rule -- but by and large, if you're a gym rat, you've got a healthier heart than most.

Don't worry, though -- I'm not suggesting you get to the gym -- while its a good idea, there are other ways you --even with your hectic life can figure out how to get more exercise.

Getting Started

If you've got a dog, take him or her out at least twice a day. Pick up the pace so you start breathing a bit harder. If you currently go for a walk around the block -- make it two instead.

Get an exercise buddy. If there are friends in the neighborhood, enlist one or two of them to start an early morning exercise program. When I did this with the women in the neighborhood, we got up every morning at 5:00 AM rain or shine and walked four miles. When you've got a buddy, it's a lot easier to stick with it.

Park your car as if it were a brand new Mercedes -- no dents allowed. Find the farthest away spot, and part there. Hike a ways to get groceries or to go shopping at the mall.

Vacuum you house more frequently or at a little faster pace to get your heart rate up.

If you're a guy, play a regular game of basketball or racket ball.

Take up a sport like tennis -- its fun, better exercise than golf and takes about 1/5 as long to play.

Make it Fun!

The best thing I every bought was a Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer with Advanced Omron Health Management Softwareped-o-meter to track my steps and every day I made an effort to walk at least 100 steps more than the day before. I'm up to over 10,000 steps a day and I made it a game.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to amp-it-up. Getting your legs moving and your heart pumpng are sure fire ways to help naturally lower cholesterol.