This Christmas, when you’re making your list, and checking it twice, make sure you remember to prioritise your health, particularly if you have heart or cholesterol issues. Here we discus what cholesterol is and how to manage it this holiday season.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid, and is vital for the normal functioning of the body. It’s mainly produced by the liver, but can also be found in some foods. If you have had a cholesterol test and found that the lipid levels in your blood are too high, this may indicate a health issue.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or ‘bad’ cholesterol, as it’s known, contributes to fatty buildups in arteries.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or ‘good’ cholesterol, has a positive role carrying cholesterol away from the heart and helping to excrete it from the body.

One in every three Australians has high cholesterol levels.[i]

How to stay healthy this Christmas

Eating small, regular meals, can help you avoid the typical weight gain which occurs during the festive holidays. By keeping your portion sizes controlled, and sticking to just one ‘saturated fat treat’ per day (just during the Christmas holidays), you should keep any weight gain in check.

If you’re eating out, choose meals that will fill you up, but won’t affect your cholesterol levels. These include protein dishes, such as chicken or fish, accompanied by salads and vegetables. Foods which contain fibre, such as quinoa, low carbohydrate bread, and oats, and fruits such as bananas, can help reduce your cholesterol levels.

While chocolates and sweets are great (and tasty) presents, ask your family and friends for an alternative gift instead. Why not ask for a fitness tracker, voucher for a new novel, or a new, healthy recipe book?

When we’re burning the candle at both ends, it’s not just our everyday health that suffers, but our cholesterol levels too. To help ensure that your body is in its best shape to enjoy Christmas (and every day of the year), consider incorporating a Ubiquinol supplement (the active form of the naturally-occurring antioxidant CoQ10). Ubiquinol has been shown to help maintain a healthy heart and LDL cholesterol levels.

Talk to your GP or local pharmacist for some advice on taking Ubiquinol.

[i] http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/4812278BC4B8FE1ECA257BBB001217A4?opendocument