ANSWERS: 1
  • Many genetic and lifestyle factors influence your cholesterol levels. You can make educated choices to achieve lower, and healthier, cholesterol numbers.

    Identification

    A cholesterol number below 200 mg/dL is considered ideal because it decreases your predisposition for heart disease. If your cholesterol level is 200 to 239 mg/dL, you should make lifestyle changes before it passes 240 mg/dL, when your risk of heart disease doubles.

    Gender

    Women tend to have lower cholesterol levels than men because the estrogen in their bodies buoys HDL (or "good") cholesterol levels. However, as a woman approaches menopause, her cholesterol levels begin to rise to match those of a man her age.

    Smoking

    Nonsmokers tend to have lower cholesterol levels than smokers because the walls of their blood vessels aren't as damaged. Damaged artery walls allow a quicker accumulation of fatty deposits, so quitting smoking helps lower your cholesterol levels.

    Exercise

    Exercise increases your HDL cholesterol while lowering your LDL cholesterol, and it can help you maintain a healthy weight. When you are overweight and your BMI (body mass index) is greater than 30, you are more likely to have higher cholesterol.

    Diet

    According to PETA, most Americans have a cholesterol level of about 210, but vegetarians can be at 161 and vegans at 133. The less meat and animal by-products you consume, the lower your cholesterol levels will be.

    Source:

    American Heart Association: Cholesterol

    Mayo Clinic: Cholesterol

    GoVeg.com Cholesterol

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