The background on my client and his presenting problem is that he recently went for a health check up due to having heart palpitations and learned that he had high cholesterol. Per his doctor, he needed to lower his cholesterol within 3 months to avoid having to be prescribed medication. This topic is one of which I have personally experienced. Our stories are in fact, mirrored in the sense that we are both former athletes with fast metabolisms and we both felt that eating healthy was not a priority. Until a poor bill of health is handed to us, of course!
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Obviously, I practice holistic methods, so here's how I was able to lower mine and keep it lowered:
- Diet - I began eating less fast food. Or if I were to eat from a fast food restaurant, it was very few and far in between. I also cut back on fried foods, such as chicken and fish.
- Exercise - As a former track & field athlete, exercise was something that was in my nature. However, after high school, I wasn't quite getting the amount of exercise needed to have a healthy heart. I began with light cardio, roughly 30 minutes of running 3 times per week.
- Fruits & Vegetables - Increase! Increase! Increase! I cannot stress to you how important it is to eat fruits & veggies on a daily basis. These are your friends, who are rich in fiber and low in cholesterol.
- Fish - Eat more of it! At least 2-3x per week you should be eating any type of fish. Though tuna and salmon contain higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, you shouldn't feel limited to the various types.
- Other foods - Oats, Nuts, Garlic, Flaxseed and Green Tea
Keep in mind a few things:
- You do not have to be overweight to have high cholesterol.
- It can be a matter of small changes in your daily habit.
- Please consult with your doctor, as my client, prior to making the decision to substitute medication for an alternative method. This is one topic that can be a matter of life or death.