High Cholesterol Causes

High cholesterol causes can vary by the foods we eat, what we weigh, the amount of exercise we get, the amount of alcohol we consume, as well as our age and sex. One of the most overlooked causes of higher cholesterol levels is stress.

When we are stressed, we look for ways to relieve the stress. Unfortunately for most of us, that involves shoveling food down our throats. These foods are not healthy foods by any means. We eat comfort foods to help reduce the stress. Comfort foods like deep fried chicken, fried cheese sticks, French fries, onion rings, deep fried Twinkies, and any other food that we can put in a deep fat fryer. We also like to consume cookies, candies, and ice cream by the container full. All of these comfort foods contain high amounts of saturated fats and trans fats. Consuming excessive quantities of these foods leads to high cholesterol levels as well as other medical problems, like heart disease.

When you feel stress, rather than reaching for that half gallon of ice cream in the freezer, find other ways to relieve the stress. Find a nice quiet room at home where you can relax. Turn the lights down, light a few scented candles, and find a comfortable place to sit or lay down. Mix warm water with lemon juice. Next take a face cloth and wet it in this mixture and ring it out. Apply it to your face and close your eyes. Sit quietly for about fifteen minutes, breathing deeply.

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You may find that taking a hot bath with added essential oils and soaking in the tub can also release stress. Taking a hot shower and breathing in the steam can help to relax tense muscles and reduce stress.

If you are at work and feel stress coming on, take a five minute break. Stretch your arms and legs to loosen up the muscles. Take a short walk around the office. Get some herbal tea to sip on. Find a quiet area in the restroom or break room where you can breathe deeply and slowly for a few minutes.