Help Employees Lower Cholesterol

Would your employees know if they had high cholesterol?

High levels of cholesterol in the blood—hypercholesterolemia—is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and a major cause of disability. More than $432 billion a year in healthcare is spent on heart disease alone, according to the Triple Solution for a Healthier America.

Help your employees decrease their chance for high cholesterol with the following office-friendly tips:

Eat fruits and vegetables. Five to nine servings a day help lower LDL, or the “bad” cholesterol. Antioxidants in these foods may have cholesterol lowering benefits, too.

Love fish. This lean protein is low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which may also help lower cholesterol. Try salmon, tuna, trout, and sardines.

Consume a balanced deskfast. A bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal has fiber and complex carbohydrates with whole grains to help you feel full, and help reduce LDL cholesterol. At work, make popcorn for a snack, and add brown rice to your lunch.

Eat a snack. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fat, which helps lowers LDL cholesterol. Studies show that people who eat about an ounce of nuts a day have lower risk of heart disease.

Exercise! Even 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.

Walk. It’s low-impact, easy, and all you need is a good pair of shoes. Try a 10-minute walk and gradually build up from there. Or, start a walking program at work and reserve half your lunch break for walking.

Breathe. Chronic stress can raise blood pressure. Research shows that stress might directly increase cholesterol levels. Reduce your stress levels with relaxation exercises, meditation, or biofeedback.