Having an active lifestyle is necessary in order for someone to stay healthy. Exercising regularly and frequently is the best way through which one can stay active and fit. This should be given importance because if one does not exercise adequately and has a sedentary lifestyle, he will become predisposed to many lifestyle related diseases.
Another common effect of inadequacy or absence of exercise from one’s daily routines is hyperlipidemia which is most commonly known as high cholesterol. Most of us know that when cholesterol levels are high in the blood, one is exposed to a greater risk to cardiovascular disease.
2 Basic Classifications of Cholesterol
Cholesterol is classified into two basic types.
- Good Cholesterol: This is otherwise known as the high density lipoprotein. Its presence in the body does not cause any danger to the heart.
- Bad Cholesterol: This is otherwise known as low density lipoprotein. LDL, most especially in high amounts, will cause arteries to narrow down due to plaque formation and predispose a person to the development of heart disease.
What Walking Can Do
Exercise need not be complex or expensive. In fact, one can stay physically fit even through just simple walking. This can be done if one is determined and disciplined enough to do his walks regularly and if possible on a daily basis.
A number of researches have been done about the relationship of exercise and cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that if a person has a healthy heart and pair of lungs, low density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol levels can be decreased and the high density lipoproteins or good cholesterol levels will be increased. The same study has also indicated that in order to impact the cholesterol in a significant and healthy way, a person needs to be walking for at least 30 minutes every single day. This should not be done for just one or two weeks. Rather, it should be made a part of one’s day to day routine.
Walking is not only capable of preventing plaque build up in the arteries. It is also very effective for those who want to lose weight. Many fitness experts agree that the amount of calories and fats expended in jogging is the same amount with that obtained from walking. The main advantage that walking has over jogging or running is that it has a very low risk for injury such as foot sprains.