Well now, let me tell ya about this cholesterol thing. They say it’s all about crackin’ some kinda code to get it lower, whatever that means. Sounds fancy, don’t it? But I reckon it ain’t as complicated as they make it seem. It’s just about eatin’ right and movin’ around, like we always shoulda been doin’.
First off, they talk about this “LDL” and “HDL” stuff. Sounds like alphabet soup to me! But from what I gather, LDL is the bad kind, the one ya don’t want too much of. They say you want it under 100 somethin’ or other. And HDL, that’s the good kind, the one ya want more of, like 60 or above, they say. It’s like the good guys fightin’ off the bad guys in your blood, I suppose.
Now, how do ya get those numbers where they need to be? Well, they say eatin’ lots of fruits and veggies helps. You know, the stuff that grows in the ground. And whole grains, whatever them are. And the lean meats, not the fatty ones. Guess that means less bacon, darn it. And they say ya gotta lay off the booze too, too much of it ain’t good for ya. And the smokin’, that’s a big no-no.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Eat more whole grains.
- Eat lean meats.
- Cut down on alcohol.
- Stop smoking.
They also talk about them “statin” drugs. Said they been around since the 80s. Must be some kinda magic pill, huh? But I reckon it’s better to try the eatin’ right and movin’ around thing first. That’s what we always did back in the day, and we didn’t have all these fancy doctors and pills.
And speakin’ of movin’ around, they say ya gotta exercise. Just walkin’ around the block a few times a day is good enough, I hear. Don’t gotta be runnin’ no marathons or nothin’. Just gotta keep them bones movin’. Keeps ya from gettin’ stiff and creaky, and I guess it helps with that cholesterol thing too.
They say if ya lower that bad cholesterol, you can cut down on heart attacks and strokes. That’s important, I guess. Don’t want yer heart stoppin’ on ya, do ya? They say for every little bit ya lower it, ya cut down on yer chances of a heart attack by a bunch. That’s somethin’ to think about.
Now, they also say to cut down on fatty foods. That’s a tough one, I tell ya. I like my fried chicken and gravy. But I guess I gotta try to eat less of it if I wanna keep my heart healthy. Maybe just have it on Sundays or somethin’.
So, there ya have it. That’s what I know about crackin’ the code to lower cholesterol. Eat yer fruits and veggies, move around a bit, lay off the booze and smokes, and try to cut down on the fatty foods. Sounds simple enough, don’t it? Just gotta stick with it. Like my mama always said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Or somethin’ like that.
Tags: Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Heart Health, Diet, Exercise, Statin Drugs