Everyday someone is told by their doctor that they have high blood cholesterol. Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels are one of the major risk factors for heart disease. It is important to have regular cholesterol checks because that is the only way to find out whether you have high blood cholesterol.

What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a wax-like, fatty substance that is present in body tissues. The excess may lead to an increase of cholesterol in the blood, coating the walls of arteries that can cause heart attacks and strokes if left untreated.

What is the normal blood Cholesterol level?
What is "normal" and "average" depends on your age, culture, gender and genes. The "ideal" total blood cholesterol level is anything below 200, taking the above into account.

What if my blood Cholesterol levels aren't okay?

9 Great ways to get your cholesterol level under control:

Limit your dietary cholesterol intake:
The cholesterol in your food can raise the cholesterol in your blood. The fats in your food turns into cholesterol after you’ve eaten them. Restrict your intake of fatty animal foods.

Limit the saturated fat in your diet:
Saturated fats have far more of an impact on blood chemistry than dietary cholesterol fats.

Eat more fibre:
Fruit, vegetables and whole grain foods.

Alcohol:
If you drink, do so in moderation. Alcohol is high in calories. It increases high blood pressure and triglyceride levels.

Smoking:
DON'T Smoke! Avoid second-hand smoke.

Relax:
Be happy and make more time to relax. Get enough sleep and take regular breaks from your daily routine.

Medication:
Take medication if you must. Cholesterol lowering medication is very expensive and often carries negative side effects, try lifestyle changes first.

Weight loss:
Reduce excess body fat so that you reach your ideal weight.

Exercise:
Get yourself moving for at least 30min a day. Running, walking, cycling, swimming - anything that gets the heart pumping a bit.

Starting a training program of regular aerobic exercise will help you lose excess body weight and start a healthy lifestyle. The more calories you burn with exercise, the fewer you store as fat.

Our bodies are made to move. Movement keeps us feeling our best. When you’re up and moving around, you improve your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to cells, which lowers your risk of heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.

Exercise also helps prevent damage from stress by strengthening your heart and arteries, lowering blood pressure.

Despite this good news about exercise, not even 40% of us get enough for good health. Try fitting even a little bit of physical exercise into your day – taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking to the shop instead of driving can safely give you a health boost!