There are a lot of exercise programs out there. While some of the best exercises to lower cholesterol are discussed in this article, know that most types of activities appear to have a positive impact on your cholesterol. The key is making sure that you choose one that you will regularly do for at least 30 minutes each day.
Exercises to Lower Cholesterol
While both aerobic exercise and strength-training exercises have been found to have benefits on cardiovascular health, studies suggest that a combination is ideal. A 2012 study in BMC Public Health, found that engaging in both types of exercise resulted in greater benefits for weight loss, fat loss, and cardiorespiratory fitness than either cardio or resistance exercises alone.
Some of the best exercises to lower cholesterol naturally include:
Walking Jogging/running Biking Swimming Lifting weights Yoga
Walking, Jogging, or Running
Running, jogging, and running are great exercises to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Aim to spend at least 150 minutes per week walking, jogging, or running with moderate intensity to see results.
Which one you choose will depend on your stamina and your joint health, but all are beneficial.
A 2013 study compared tens of thousands of runners to an equal number of walkers and concluded that the amount of exercise was what mattered, not the type. People who exerted the same level of energy when exercising experienced similar benefits, whether they walked or ran. The researchers determined that walking 4.3 miles at a brisk pace would use the same amount of energy as running three miles.
Biking
Cycling expends about the same energy as jogging, but it’s easier on your joints. If you experience joint pain, it may be best to choose cycling over running. You can hit local trails or try a stationary exercise bike to lower cholesterol.
Scientists reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association that people who biked to work were less likely to develop high cholesterol than those who didn’t.
Swimming and Water Exercises
Water exercises, such as swimming, water walking, and participating in water games, can also produce similar results in your cholesterol profile as other aerobic exercises and are kind to your joints as well.
Weight Lifting
Lifting weights or doing other resistance exercises—for example using resistance bands or even your own body weight—is helpful on its own, and especially as part of an exercise program that includes aerobic exercise as well.
Yoga
While yoga is generally a low-intensity exercise, studies have shown that it may reduce the risk of heart disease and may positively affect cholesterol levels. A large review in 2014 found that those who regularly practiced yoga showed significant improvement in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure over those who didn’t exercise.
How Much to Exercise to Lower Cholesterol
How much and how often you exercise is important. According to the American Heart Association, you should aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity; or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.
You’ll gain even more benefits by being active at least 300 minutes (five hours) per week. Add moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least two days per week.That said, any physical activity is better than nothing, even if it’s just taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking around the block.
Furthermore, if you find it hard to exercise for long periods at a time, you can divide it up into shorter sessions—10 or 15 minutes—throughout the day and still reap similar benefits.
Getting Started
If you’ve been leading a sedentary lifestyle and/or are overweight, you should contact your healthcare professional to help you create an exercise program that progressively works up to a caloric energy expenditure of about 1,000 calories per week.
The intensity of your workout should be at a low or moderate level until your aerobic endurance increases. Start out exercising in intervals of 10 to 15 minutes and build up to 30 minutes over time. Increase amount and intensity gradually over time.
