#cholesterol

#cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the US, but research has found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet and being physically active can help lower the risk. The American Heart Association's dietary guidelines recommend prioritizing fresh produce, whole grains, lean proteins such as fish, and limiting ultra-processed foods and refined sugar. That may sound like a lot, but Matthew Landry told Business Insider that you don't necessarily need to overhaul your diet to improve your heart health.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance the body needs for many bodily processes, but if a person has too much LDL or "bad" cholesterol, it can form sticky plaque in their arteries, putting them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. To reduce cholesterol levels, the American Heart Association recommends exercising at least 150 minutes a week, quitting smoking and vaping, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a heart-healthy diet that's low in saturated fats and high in fiber.

You've probably heard that taking 10,000 steps a day is key for lasting cardiovascular health. But that number doesn't actually originate from scientific research. In fact, experts say it comes from a 1960s Japanese pedometer ad. Reaching that goal can still be beneficial. But new evidence suggests that continuous walks may be just as effective, if not more so-even for people with lower total step counts.

A single infusion of an experimental gene-editing drug appears safe and effective for cutting cholesterol, possibly for life, according to a small early study released Saturday. The study, which involved 15 volunteers, found one infusion of a drug that uses the CRISPR gene-editing technique could safely reduce cholesterol, as well as levels of harmful triglycerides, by about half.

While I once thought I was superior for starving, I soon felt superior for never saying no to ice-cream and never ordering salad without a side of chips.