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What can exercise do for your cholesterol? Here’s the science

Here's what every man should know about the workout-cholesterol connection

man stretching exercising outside
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Even without reading the research, most people are aware that exercise is beneficial for heart health and overall wellness. I’ve reviewed numerous studies on the benefits of exercising, from reducing the risk of heart disease to lowering blood pressure. For example, researchers have found that just 11 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous exercise or 75 minutes per week can help prevent heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers compared to being sedentary.

In another study, researchers revealed that replacing just 5 minutes of sedentary time with vigorous exercise-like activity reduced diastolic blood pressure by an average of 0.54 mmHg and systolic blood pressure by an average of 0.68 mmHg. So, what about cholesterol? What can exercise do for your cholesterol? In general, studies show that exercising is also beneficial for your cholesterol levels. Let’s take a look at some of the research on the different types of exercise to improve cholesterol.

The best types of exercise to improve cholesterol

HIIT

High-intensity interval training is aptly named because it’s a high-intensity workout with short bursts of vigorous movement that ramps up your heart rate. When researchers compared HIIT to being sedentary, those who performed HIIT workouts had notably lower LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

Running

Running is a higher-intensity form of aerobic exercise that’s also been shown in research to reduce LDL cholesterol, which improves the overall cholesterol profile. Another study concluded that marathon runners often have higher HDL cholesterol, which is considered the ‘good’ cholesterol that’s more beneficial for overall health.

Cycling

Cycling on trails, your neighborhood streets, or using a stationary bike is another way to improve your cholesterol levels. Researchers concluded that using a stationary bicycle can reduce total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. In a study comparing recreational cyclists to people who don’t cycle at all, the cyclists had notably better cholesterol markers.

Weightlifting

Resistance training or weightlifting has also been shown to lower triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol while raising HDL “good” cholesterol, so it’s just another reason to pick up those dumbbells.

Jumping rope

Study authors showed that just eight weeks of jumping rope or skipping, as I always called it, can significantly decrease LDL cholesterol when paired with a calorie-restricted diet. Researchers have also revealed that frequent rope jumping is an effective way to boost cardiovascular endurance, while also lowering blood pressure. It’s clear that exercising is good news for your cholesterol, so you can pick what works best for you and what you think you’ll stick with long-term. It’s the consistency that counts the most when it comes to cholesterol.

Steph Green (Steph Zee) is a singer-songwriter and professional writer with over 12 years of experience in healthcare and… Read Full Bio
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