HEALTH
The Good, The Bad,
The Cholesterol
Selina Mokatsane
With the imminent approach of winter, food can become an enticing
source of solace to beat the winter
blues! The trouble is the kind of food
you consume can have long-lasting
negative effects on your health, one
of them being cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fatty substance made naturally
in the body. It makes up cell walls and
compartments to regulate the movement of substance into and within the
cell. There are important bodily functions that cholesterol impacts, such
as digestion, manufacturing of hormones and protection of nerve endings. Yes, cholesterol can be good!
The problem arises when this “silent killer” presents itself as a risk
factor for heart disease and stroke,
when an unhealthy diet is ensued.
Although high cholesterol can be genetically inherited (which means that
your body naturally produces excessive cholesterol), it can be managed
by leading a healthy lifestyle.
Health 24 presents tips on ways to
lower your cholesterol, here are a
few:
• Attain and maintain a healthy body
weight: But what is a healthy body
weight? Well, simply calculate your
body mass index or BMI by dividing
your weight in kilograms by height
in metres squared. On average, a
BMI of 25 is considered over-weight
and that between 18.5 and 24.9 is
healthy weight.
• Replace saturated fats: Brick margarines and cream tend to be high in
saturated fats. Avoid these and replace them with soft tub margarine,
olive oil, Canola, avocado, grape
seed and sunflower oil.
• Be physically active: Frequent exercise helps increase the “good” kind of
cholesterol.
• Up your fibre intake: Fruit and vegetables (especially legumes such as
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beans, peas and lentils) are a good
source of fibre, at least four serving a
day will benefit your health.
So take charge of your life and strive
to live and eat healthily. The road to
healthy living is not too far-fetched.
By reading this, you have taken the
first step!