High levels of cholesterol in the blood can possibly be lowered by a healthy diet rich in all kinds of vegetables and fruit, whole grains and small amounts of lean meat, a German scientist has stated in a recent report. Although the blood cholesterol levels are affected less by what we eat than has been previously believed, it makes good sense to eat good food that is freshly prepared and has a balance of all the nutrients necessary to health on the plate. This does not mean cutting out fast foods, alcohol and sugar completely, but they should be kept to a minimum and consumed in their most natural form where possible.
Most fast foods such as sausages, burgers and processed meals contain unacceptably high levels of fat, salt and sugar, all of which have a detrimental effect on the internal workings of the body. Researchers have found that, while most blood cholesterol is produced by the body itself and not by the food we eat, being overweight and sedentary can affect our cholesterol levels adversely. A healthy diet should consist of balanced amounts of protein, such as chicken or fish, pulses and chickpeas combined with whole grain carbohydrates such as granary bread or brown rice, as many lightly cooked vegetables as you can squeeze onto your plate and a maximum of three portions of fruit in a day; of the latter two, try to eat a rainbow of colours every day.
Regular exercise has been proved to maintain a healthy blood cholesterol level; there is plenty of Workout Equipment available on the market, and it costs nothing to go for a brisk walk. Healthy lifestyle changes have been proved to lower cholesterol levels within a few weeks, enabling many people on medication for high cholesterol levels to reduce or do without it, although medication should never be stopped without referring to a medical professional.