Heart disease is the number one cause of death for most people in the developed countries around the world. Having a high level of blood cholesterol has been linked to the increase of the incidence of heart disease and has become a grave cause of concern.

The only good news to this fact is that developing heart disease is highly preventable. All it takes is for one to be able to follow a healthier lifestyle. The path to such a lifestyle is trying to lower one’s cholesterol level. Although there are already several drugs available that will help an individual reduce body cholesterol levels, this is usually reserved for more high risk patients in need of drastic decreases in their cholesterol levels. There are also natural ways readily available for anyone looking forward to lowering their own cholesterol to normal and healthy levels.

One of the natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels is through diet. Following a low cholesterol diet day in and day out can be very effective in trying to control and maintain a normal cholesterol level. This would mean eating low cholesterol foods such as soy products, vegetables and fruits.

High fiber foods are also known to help in the fight to lower cholesterol. Regular exercise is also a good habit to develop if you are really intent in trying to lower your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps in increasing HDL or “good” cholesterol in the body as well as strengthens your heart muscle, helps keep your blood pressure at normal and even helps you in shedding of those excess pounds.

There are also several natural supplements that will be able to help you lower your cholesterol  levels. Taking B-complex vitamins, specifically Niacin, has been known to help lower blood cholesterol in the body. supplements fortified with Lecithin can also help in lowering your cholesterol as it enables excess fat and cholesterol to be dispersed in the water instead of building up in the arteries.

There are other natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels available today. All it will take is some research and talking to your doctor about how to effectively follow a lifestyle that will enable you to lower cholesterol the natural way.

Studies have shown that omega 3 may prevent heart attacks because when your arteries are free of plaque your blood can flow freely and you are less likely to experience heart complications.  There is also less likelihood that you will experience a stroke because your blood is less likely to clot.

Patients who have had heart attacks and take Omega 3 seem to have less severe heart attacks than patients who are not taking Omega 3. Because Omega 3 aids in making the blood flow more freely it may aid in lowering blood pressure. This in turn, may prevent thrombosis.

Not all Omega 3’s are the same

The three main forms are: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  EPA and DHA are both found in fish, fish oil supplements and algae extracts. ALA is found in plant sources like walnuts, flax seed, canola and to some degree, green leafy vegetables.

Now that you know how important Omega 3 is to your health, I’m sure you would like to know how to find the supplement!  It’s not hard to find, but you want to make sure that you purchase pharmacy grade Omega 3 supplement. Otherwise you may be taking a risk that some brands may have contaminants in them such as mercury.

Chances are, you are in the 99 percentile of people who have a deficiency of Omega 3 in their diet. It is an essential fatty acid that your body needs but can’t create on its own.  Getting an Omega 3 fish oil supplement may be more preferable to you than eating a lot of fish, so try a supplement and remember, get the pharmaceutical grade!

Green Lipped Mussel is now considered to be the highest quality of omega 3 essential fatty acids that you can find as it holds many benefits for your health without containing contamination.

And contrary to what most people think that peak fitness is only for the young, any middle-aged individual can still achieve peak fitness given the conditions of his body. Achieving peak fitness does not only mean working on a good body built and having the energy and the muscles to do hard, manual, physical labor. It also means following good health habits designed not only to build and develop your muscles, but sustain your body with the energy and the requirements needed for the performance of your tasks to your fullest potential.

Maintain a balanced quantity of calories in your body. Don’t stop eating calorie-rich food just because you’re trying to cut back on your calorie and lose weight. Calories are used in the performance of simple, ordinary tasks. Load up on fiber. It is important for good digestion and bowel movement. Fiber-rich food like wheatbread, unpolished rice, vegetables and fruits give you a feeling of fullness, which reduces the tendency to overeat. Of course, don’t forget your greens. Maintaining a daily vegetable and fruit intake provides you with the necessary vitamins and minerals to beef up your stamina and resistance to disease, ultimately leading to your body’s peak fitness.

Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Be mobile. Exercise and be active. Keeping your body used to physical activity and an active lifestyle develops the muscles and strengthens your body’s capacity to do certain tasks. Sedate individuals do not only gain more flab in their middle; they are also more prone to injuries and illness. Ten minutes of routine exercise everyday – from something as simple as taking the stairs to stretching and working on the treadmill can help your body maintain its peak fitness level. Of course, remember not to abuse your body. Have moments for lazing around and relaxing those muscles of yours. Too much and too little of anything is bad.

Give yourself enough sleep. Sleep is important as it allows your body to rejuvenate, the tissues to heal, the brain and other organs to slow down in their function. A good night’s sleep spells more energy the next day, a more enthusiastic, active YOU. Enough sleep allows you and your body to function optimally, to your fullest potential. It is the body’s means to recharge itself.

The easiest measure to check your peak fitness level is your body’s ability to respond to stress. More so, peak fitness is your body’s ability to respond to emergencies. A well-oiled machine should be able to function without the ‘clicks’ and the ‘thuds’. Our body should be able to do its work in much the same way.