Having high levels of cholesterol in your blood leads to an increased risk of heart disease.

Very simply cholesterol is divided into two types.

• The first is called - High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and this protects your body from heart disease and is known as the good cholesterol.
• The second is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which is basically a fat-like substance that can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. This is known as the bad cholesterol and is the one that you need to avoid.

  
  Walking is a simple and easy to do exercise and there is always a time when you can fit it into your day.
  It keeps your heart and lungs in good condition and research has shown that it can lower the LDL or bad cholesterol and raise the levels of HDL or good cholesterol. This recent research has shown that you need to walk for half an hour each day to increase your levels of good cholesterol and to gain all the health benefits - to find out more about these benefits click here

  Walking is exercise and as such burns fat and cholesterol is a type of fat. In fact walking burns up practically as much fat as jogging and there is much less chance of injury when you are walking compared to jogging.

  
  

  How you can reduce the risk of a heart attack

  • Start today by making a commitment – after all it is your life you want to improve and extend.
  • Set yourself an achievable goal. Your goal should be something which you will be able to do – for example – walk for 5-7 minutes every day for one week.
    The next week you could try for 7-10 minutes and gradually build up to 30 minutes of walking every day.
    The main thing is that you go out and walk .
    We are all different and will all have slightly different goals.
    If you have been diagnosed as having high bad cholesterol levels then check with your health professional before starting on a walking plan.

  • All you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes
  • Walk on the level or over flat terrain to begin with.

  • Remember if you are overweight you are more at risk and walking can be a way of losing or regulating your weight and help you into a healthier way of life so take a look at the health benefits .
  • Need more motivation then read these top tips

  • A ten week walking plan
  • Step One – a walking plan if you are very overweight/obese and/or very unfit
  • Step Two – a walking plan for those who can walk for at least five minutes.
  • How to tell if you are walking briskly.

  Walking needs to built into your lifestyle as one of the ways to a healthier you.

  Enjoy your walking