Exercise Boosts Good Cholesterol

Now comes a study of previously studied studies, revealing that exercise appears to rev up our level of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. That’s the good cholesterol, the kind you want to rev up. The Washington Post reports on the analysis, conducted by Japanese researchers who reviewed 25 studies published between 1966 and
2005, and assessed the effects of aerobic exercise on HDL cholesterol in a
total of more than 1,400 adults ranging in age from 23 to 75. The
studies lasted an average of 27.4 weeks. On average, the Post reports, participants
exercised 3.7 sessions per week for 40.5 minutes each session, burning
an average of 1,019 calories per week.  The paper reports that the findings showed that exercise resulted in an average
increase in HDL cholesterol of 2.53 milligrams per deciliter. The
minimum amount of exercise required to change HDL cholesterol levels
was 120 minutes a week or 900 calories burned. Exercise had a greater
impact in people with a higher total cholesterol level (220 milligrams
per deciliter or greater) and in people with a body mass index (BMI) of
less than 28 (obesity begins at a BMI of 30). Read more in the Washington Post.