A high level of cholesterol is harmful for the body as it is the root cause of many heart ailments that can prove to be fatal. If the level of LDL cholesterol is higher then it gives rise to plaques. Plaque accumulates on the walls of the arteries and blocks the normal flow of blood to and from the heart. This condition is known as atherosclerosis in which the walls of the arteries harden.

The condition of atherosclerosis negatively impacts the coronary arteries and gives rise to a medical condition known as Coronary artery disease thus making a person vulnerable to heart attacks. Cerebral vascular disease is a condition in which the blood vessels of the brain are affected and can result into a stroke. The condition of the atherosclerosis can also affect the normal flow of blood to other vital organs like kidney and intestine. So it is very important to check the blood cholesterol levels to prevent any such future complications. .

We must try to know how the level of LDL cholesterol increases. Some of the major reasons are Overweight, Unhealthy diet, Low physical activity and Age. One can lower the level of blood cholesterol by following the tips that are given below:

a) Maintain a diet that contains foods lower in cholesterol like green vegetable, fruits, whole grains (cereals and brown bread), fish and legumes.

b) Eat foods that have lower content of trans and saturated fats. You can eat foods that contain more unsaturated fats like using olive oil instead of vegetable oil, butter or margarine.

c) Eat lean portions of meat. Try top trim the fat before you cook the food drain he extra fat with the help of tissue papers.

d) Avoid fried foods and instead eat baked and boiled foods. You can even follow roasting, poaching, or steaming for your food.

e) Try to include more low fat milk products that are rich in nutrients. Also you can go for non fat cheese and yogurt. Cut down on the recipes which include cheese or butter.

f) Avoid meat and go for lentils, tofu, peas or beans.

g) Use margarine that is free from trans fat.

h) Eat only the egg whites and discard the yolk as it contains fat and cholesterol.

i) Avoid junk and canned foods. These are mainly cooked with hydrogenated oils and contain trans fats.

j) Eat vegetables and fruits as snacks instead of the fried foods.

k) Make it a daily routine to exercise for at least 30 minutes in a day. It will help in decreasing the body fat and lower the cholesterol levels of the body. Exercise also keeps the mind stress free thus reduces the stress related cholesterol formation.

The above tips will definitely help you to reduce excess fat from the body and also decreases the blood cholesterol. So eat healthy foods and exercise regularly - the mantra to reduce the cholesterol level.