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After 13 years, scientists discover best way to ‘reverse’ cholesterol damage in later life
After all the intensive sports you played in middle and high school, you’d be forgiven for thinking that theres a pro-health scientific basis for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Of course, there is. But if you want to ensure bodily cholesterol levels stay low into adulthood, new research suggests dialing it down might have even greater health benefits. We dont often write about cholesterol, but its worth repeating that eating foods high in cholesterol does not raise your bodily cholesterol levels in most cases. Diet does, however, have an effect. Sticking to keto could raise your cholesterol levels, for example. And high cholesterol is a risk factor for dementia. If you want to lower it, this is what you need to do&
Light physical activity is better than intense workouts for lowering cholesterol
A whopping 13-year study by researchers in the UK and Finland has popped vigorous exercises cholesterol balloon& or something.
Light physical activity appears to have a greater impact on cholesterol levels, compared with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and may completely reverse the risks associated with high cholesterol levels, such as heart problems and premature death.
- GOOD NEWS FOR CHOC LOVERS: Consuming cocoa keeps your heart healthy
The study added to the mounting evidence that spending lots of time sitting down is generally bad for your health. From childhood to mid-20s, spending too much time sitting or lying down can increase cholesterol levels by two-thirds.
Having high cholesterol in your teens and early 20s is associated with premature death (like, in your mid-40s) and heart problems in the mid-20s.
But crucially, getting kids and adolescents to engage in intense physical activity won’t have as much of a positive knock-on effect on their adult cholesterol levels as light physical activity will.
What you can do to combat raised cholesterol levels
Rather than cutting out foods that are high in cholesterol thats a myth the activities recommended by the University of Exeter in its writeup of the study include:
- Long walks
- House chores
- Slow dancing
- Swimming
- Cycling
Such examples of light physical activity are up to five times more effective than more intense physical activity as promoting healthy hearts and lowering inflammation in the young population.
These findings emphasize the incredible health importance of light physical activity, says the studys lead author, Dr Andrew Agbaje, and shows it could be the key to preventing elevated cholesterol and dyslipidemia from early life.
We have evidence that light physical activity is considerably more effective than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in this regard.
He therefore suggests that the World Health Organization update its guidelines on childhood exercise, and recommends that public health experts, pediatricians, and health policymakers encourage more participation in light physical activity from childhood.
Dr Agbaje and his team later discovered that 20% of premature heart disease cases could be prevented by checking young people’s cholesterol levels. Commenting on what they had found during the two studies, he concluded that, “being sedentary is at the root of health problems and childhood and adolescent sedentariness is a one-way ticket for cardiovascular diseases and death.”
- BAD NEWS FOR MEAT LOVERS: A carnivorous diet comes with a severe risk of dementia and heart issues
