Can any man really lower his cholesterol?

Lower cholesterol levels should be a health concern of every

man.

Heart disease is the number one killer among so-called

healthy men in Western world today. More than 40% of

men will die from it.

What is particularly disturbing is that strokes and heart

attacks are becoming much more common in younger men.

It seems that younger men, even those who look physically

like they are in good health, are dying because they can't

lower cholesterol levels.

Even if a man seems healthy and follows good eating and

exercising habits there's no guarantee that he'll have lower

cholesterol levels.

There're so many misconceptions when it comes to trying to

lower cholesterol. That's why we are here to present you

with the accurate, concise and unbiased information on

what it really takes to lower cholesterol.

Witness the unfortunate death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher

Darryl Kile, who was felled in his prime, only 33 years old.

Although it seems counterintuitive, athletes, in fact, can be

even more vulnerable than the average person and have a

tougher time when it comes to trying to lower cholesterol.

When a man, in good health or not, engages in vigorous

exercise he'll create an excess of free radicals. These free

radicals cause tremendous amounts of damage to the body

with devastating effects, one of which is elevating their

cholesterol.

But taking a powerful antioxidant will help neutralize these

free radicals before damage occurs. Nowadays, due to

lifestyles, diet, and the deeper understanding in the role

that genetics plays, every man young or old should be

acutely aware of the importance of trying to lower

cholesterol to an optimum level.

High cholesterol is considered the best "marker" for

potential heart disease and it is a condition that 1 in 4 men

have.

In order to prevent future problems, it is widely

recommended that you check your cholesterol levels, and if

they are "out of line," take action to lower cholesterol -

irrespective of your age.

Are You At Risk If You Don't Take An Active Role To

Lower Your Cholesterol?

A common misconception is that people with high

cholesterol are overweight or subsist on a diet of greasy

burgers and fries. The truth is that the amount of

cholesterol you have in your bloodstream is NOT directly

related to your diet.

Another prevailing and incorrect view concerning lower

cholesterol, is that only older people need worry about their

cholesterol levels. The reality is that having a predisposition

to high cholesterol and heart disease are genetically

influenced factors.

High cholesterol levels can stalk even young men who are in

seemingly good shape and otherwise take care of

themselves.

Indeed, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

advocates that the young, middle-aged, and older men

lower cholesterol levels, whether it be to prevent heart

disease, or because they already have it.

Therefore it's important to know your family history and,

accordingly, take the necessary preventative steps to lower

cholesterol and ensure the health of your heart for many

years to come.

But what exactly is this "silent killer" known as cholesterol?

It is important to understand that cholesterol itself is

essential to good health.

Cholesterol is a non-soluble waxy substance that your body

needs for making hormones, cell walls and nerve sheaths.

However, there are two forms of cholesterol. One form is

called LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) -- or the "bad"

cholesterol -- and the other is HDL (High Density

Lipoprotein) -- or the "good" cholesterol.

LDL transports the cholesterol to your cells, whereas HDL

travels around in your bloodstream picking up excess

cholesterol and taking it back to your liver for reprocessing,

functioning as a "garbage collector" of sorts.

Too much LDL creates the risk of clogging up your arteries,

which can lead to heart failure or stroke; too little HDL will

result in the same problem due to inadequate

"housekeeping."

Therefore, the most important figure to examine is not your

total cholesterol per se, but the ratio between the LDL and

HDL readings, and the levels of each type. You want the

LDL as low as possible and the HDL as high as possible.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends

that everyone over 20 have their cholesterol checked every

five years. For optimal health, total cholesterol should be

less than 200, whereas the LDL cholesterol remains at less

than 100, and the HDL greater than 60.

For more information on how to lower your cholesterol

please visit:

http://www.man-health-fitness-solutions.com/lower-cholesterol.html