Diet and exercise really DO make a difference

One of the impressions that many people have about following a low-carb diet is that your cholesterol levels will go through the roof. This is assumed because most low-carb diets tend to be higher in fat. However, there have been several studies conducted over the past several years, including the one mentioned in this article, that indicates that cholesterol levels can actually improve on a low-carb diet. In addition, exercise can also have an impact, albeit minor, on cholesterol levels, according to a meta-analysis study in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Since starting on a low-carb diet back in June, I’ve had bloodwork done twice, most recently last week, and in both cases, my number had dropped dramatically from what they were when I was much heavier and wasn’t working out. In fact, the concern I had about my cholesterol levels going up because of my high-fat diet haven’t materialized:

• Total Cholesterol - 177 mg/dL (should be under 200)
• HDL (good cholesterol) - 55 mg/dL (should be above 40 for men, above 50 for women)
• LDL (’bad’ cholesterol) - 106 mg/dL (under 100 is optimal, 160-189 is considered high)
• Triglycerides - 79mg/dL (under 150 is optimal)

(By the way, the statistics I quoted for cholesterol levels are from the American Heart Association website, which is a great resource for information about heart disease, diet and exercise.)

These numbers are significantly better than my pre-low-carb and pre-exercise numbers. For instance, my total cholesterol level before was around 280, and my triglycerides were through the roof at 350. So I’m pleased with my results, but that doesn’t give me free rein to relax or coast. The numbers just confirm that this change to my eating habits and exercise is a positive and permanent change, not a once-and-done phenomenon.

Whether you’re just now embarking on a new weight-loss and exercise regimen or you have been eating right and exercising for a long time, it’s beneficial to get your blood work done on a regular basis just to keep track of where you are. Besides the impacts of diet and exercise on cholesterol levels, there are heditary factors that can influence them as well. So go out and get the tests done - it could literally change your life!