Trying to keep correct cholesterol levels steady in a healthy range is no easy task, after all having a delicious pizza the night before your blood lipid test could raise both your cholesterol and triglycerides levels by as much as 15 percent. Throw in a little anxiety about your home’s value continually declining and all of the sudden you have managed to take a healthy LDL (bad cholesterol) reading of 210 and turn it into an unhealthy one of slightly over 250.

While a person’s correct cholesterol level can fluctuate wildly under certain circumstances there are a number of steps you can take to make sure that your next trip to the doctor doesn’t turn into a lecture on heart health and family genealogy. After all, most of us have a least one close relative who either has had a heart attack or looks like they are a walking heart attack. Let’s take a few minutes to explore a few heart healthy ideas so your doctor will give you a smile and a friendly pat on the back rather than a prescription for his favorite prescription cholesterol busting statin medication.

For me exercise has been the key. I do realize it is not for everyone and some of you who have couch potato written across your forehead will tune out right about now in order to catch your favorite television show along with a big bag of cholesterol laden potato chips. I don’t take it personally and my suggestion to you is have a extra bag for me along with an extra large tub of high saturated fat dip, just to add a little artery clogging punch.

Exercise is not about winning the New York or Boston marathon. It is about finding some form of activity that you can consistently do at least five days a week for minimum of 30 minutes. I am fortunate to have some great walking trails close to where I live along with two National Parks. These provide a great way for me to get away from my computer, website, telephone, digital device, television and all that other stuff that often gets in the way of a healthy lifestyle. If you are trying to establish or maintain correct cholesterol levels leave these toys behind for an hour or so. You can always return those calls when you get back or record your favorite show.

Another tip for maintaining healthy correct cholesterol levels is to clean out your pantry and ice box paying special attention to the saturated fat content in every item. If the label has a saturated fat content over 20 percent either throw it away, give it to one of your couch potato friends, or a find a way to cook it that drains away the saturated fat. According to the American Heart Association your daily saturated fat intake should not exceed 15 percent of total calories consumed, and ideally should be around 10 percent of total calories consumed.