Fitness & Exercise

Exercise Beneficial for Overall Cholesterol Numbers

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To reduce your risk of heart disease even further, combine regular exercise with a healthy diet, the authors advise.

Reducing dietary cholesterol can be fairly simple. "You don't have to omit foods that are high in animal fat, but consider your portion sizes and a wide variety of foods," says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, director of nutritional therapy at Ohio's Cleveland Clinic and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Because even moderate changes can have a big impact." She suggests the following:

• Select only low-fat or fat-free dairy products
• Limit red meat servings to the size of a deck of cards
• Increase intake of low-fat protein like poultry, fish, or soy
• Include more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Split restaurant entrées with a friend or take half home