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| Cardio or Weights for Cholesterol? Doctors Say the Best Answer May Be Both |
Doctors say cardio alone may not be enough as weights join the fight against high cholesterol
Doctors are pushing a mixed routine of cardio and strength training for people trying to improve cholesterol levels, after new evidence showed the two forms of exercise work in different but complementary ways. The article says exercise can lower LDL, vLDL and triglycerides while also lifting HDL, which is the type often harder to improve with medication alone.
The report explains that cardio such as walking, running, swimming and cycling starts working on blood fats quickly. It helps the body clear LDL more efficiently and can make LDL particles less harmful. One expert, Neil Smart, said, “you need both aerobic and resistance types” because they complement each other.
On the strength-training side, the article says lifting weights can raise HDL about as much as aerobic exercise, and combining both may produce better lipid results. It adds that doctors are recommending strength training two to three times a week, while steady exercise may show changes in four to eight weeks. The piece also warns that diet still matters, since exercise alone cannot fully offset unhealthy eating.