Good cholesterol helps heart, but study shows it also helps memory

William Atkins
Saturday, 05 July 2008 21:47

Science - Health

Dr. Tim Johnson, a regular medical contributor to ABC News stated that there are eight primary ways to increase HDL (“good” cholesterol) and decrease LDL (“bad” cholesterol).

These eight good ways to increase HDL are:

1.    Statin medications
2.    Exercise regularly
3.    Lose weight
4.    Stop smoking
5.    Drink alcohol in modest amounts
6.    Cut down on trans fat and saturated fat
7.    Consume olive, canola, and peanut oils
8.    Drink cranberry juice

Johnson stated that is very difficult to raise HDL. The most important way it can be effectively raised, according to Dr. Johnson, is exercise.

Johnson stated, “There are some recent studies that suggest it's not even so much the intensity of the exercise as the duration that can be helpful in raising HDL.” [ABC News: “Memory in Old Age Linked to HDL Levels Now”]