Good Cholesterol Foods - Using Natural Foods and Supplements to Improve Your Health

Many people feel petrified just on hearing the news of elevated cholesterol levels. But here it needs to be mentioned clearly that all cholesterol are not bad. Cholesterol can be categorized under two separate entities- good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL).

LDL levels when heightened can pose health risks in the form of cardiac attacks or blockage of arteries. Bad cholesterol is what prompts the presence of cholesterol inside the body cells. Bad cholesterol should obviously be there inside the body and it should be in proportion to the amount of good cholesterol present. The good cholesterol drive out the excess cholesterol from the body.

The ratio of 4: 4 or less for LDL to HDL is considered to be normal. In order to maintain the optimum cholesterol levels inside the body there are some natural methods which can be easily applied and which would not have any side-effects too. Among these methods, intake of good cholesterol foods is a very important aspect.

A proper dietary habit with the right amount of good cholesterol along with a regular fitness regime goes a long way in keeping the cholesterol levels normal. People who do not have sufficient time for exercises can consider walking as a convenient alternative. One should cut down on the intake of red meat and poultry products and also refrain from addictive substances like liquor or cigarettes.

Among good cholesterol foods certain fantastic natural supplements and vitamins are available which can bring down the presence of bad cholesterol quite considerably. Another effective way is to keep the food pyramid in mind. Fruits and green vegetables really have no alternative and are gifts of nature.

Cereals, nuts, sea fish, etc., are all examples of good cholesterol foods. Fish oils in fish like tuna and salmon have beneficial properties due to the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids (oils) which increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL) inside the body. One ought to consume these on a regular basis as constant intake of fish oils is required.

Monounsaturated fats which are present in nuts help you to raise the level of HDL inside your body. Nuts should be consumed in unsalted manner with their shells remaining intact. Again a person should not go overboard in consumption of nuts as the high calorie percentage in these can increase your weight which is not always recommendable.

Cholesterol supplements deserve special mention when one talks about good cholesterol foods. These are highly effective products which lower the LDL levels and heighten the HDL levels, thus serving a dual role.

For proper functioning of the liver and heart one should seriously contemplate about this option. There are various vitamins and other antioxidants which act as effective and good cholesterol foods. People hear a lot about Resveratrol, Policosanol and Niacin is this regard. Hence to sum it all up, one should maintain an active lifestyle and pursue a strict dietary regime if he/she wants to always keep a rein on the LDL levels and increase the HDL levels.