If you're like a lot of people -- especially if you're young -- you probably don't think much about your cholesterol. The thing is, your cholesterol level (which is reported in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL) is a good indication of whether your diet and exercise regimen is working for you.
This month's issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter looks at how lifestyle choices can affect "good" and "bad" cholesterol levels. The article doesn't say all cholesterol is bad (it actually helps with digestion and hormone production), but too much cholesterol can narrow blood vessels and put you at risk for heart attacks and all sorts of other icky things. Being active and eating foods that are low in cholesterol -- and high in fiber -- can make a big difference to your body.
The point isn't that you should be in your doctor's office every week asking for a reading, but it's definitely a good idea to get it checked every once in a while, and it helps remind us that the choices we make on a daily basis are affecting more than what we see in the mirror in the mornings. For more info, read the rest -- or check out another great article on the top 5 foods that will help lower your cholesterol.