It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.
Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Ask Dr. Gourmet
Can you lower your cholesterol without exercising?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
You can certainly lower your cholesterol without exercise. The research shows this to be the case.
You will do better to exercise regularly. Regular activity has clearly been shown to help lower your total cholesterol, improve the HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
It doesn't take much exercise to be healthier. Start with 3 hours a week. That's walking about 45 minutes 4 days a week. Don't worry at first about how far or how fast you walk. Take your time and build up to it. Likewise, you don't have to spend a lot of money. Starting a walking routine is simple and free. Adding resistance training is also easy and not expensive. Using resistance bands is a great way to get started.
Here's a link to help you get started with exercise. We have a lot of simple, easy to use resources for you.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet