A Substitute for a Statin or Diet for Raised Cholesterol

This may not be as exciting as the title leads you to expect. The answer is: exercise! You are probably fed up with being told all you need to do is exercise more, but unfortunately it’s often true. A new study published in the journal Menopause shows that physical activity can be a safe and effective alternative for improving lipid profiles and reducing cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women, even if they are, or have been taking hormone therapy.

Almost 500 postmenopausal women (average age 57) provided the data. Those that were using hormone replacement were significantly younger, had higher levels of activity, and lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol. However, physical activity was linked to more favorable lipid levels, regardless of hormone use. The investigators conclude that the results support the use of physical activity as a substitute for other methods to improve lipid levels. Considering all the other benefits exercise brings, the suggestion is not one to ignore lightly.