Winters can increase risk of several ailments and health conditions and it's partly due to our sedentary lifestyle during the season, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The cold weather can wreak havoc with our cholesterol levels during the season because of the fact that we eat high-calorie food more often compared to other seasons. High levels of cholesterol can lead to the development of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiac arrests and strokes.
Here are some easy lifestyle changes to keep cholesterol in control and stay healthy.
1. Continue to exercise at home or when there is sun outside, one can step outside well covered with multiple layers of clothes, woolen cap/muffler for walks and workouts.
2. Avoid excessive fried/high-sugar food and instead have fruits and vegetables per day. Eat radish, carrot etc as a snack. Adding soluble fibre like Isabgol, leafy vegetables, eggplant, okra, oats, grain like barley and whole pulses will also help reduce cholesterol.
3. Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and treats like ice cream, sweets, gajak, rewari, cake, cookies etc.
4. Avoid red meat like mutton, pork, lamb and eat fish and chicken instead.
5. Avoid pakoras, potato chips, onion rings, too many eggs.
6. Avoid excessive drinking or smoking.
7. Foods (margarine and granula bars) fortified with 2 gm of plant steroid can reduce LDL by 10%.
8. Omega-3 supplements like fatty fish can reduce triglycerides and substitute red meats.
9. Consuming soy milk (2 and half cups) or tofu 25gm can reduce LDL by 5-6%.
10. Eating even 2 ounces of nuts per day like almonds, walnuts, peanuts can reduce LDL by upto 5% in addition to other heart healthy factors.