![\"Cholesterol](\"http:\/\/blueheronhealthnews.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Wellbeing_10085445_m-2015.jpg\")
High cholesterol is normally assumed to be affected mostly by your diet and physical activity, and that is true (sometimes). <\/p>\nHigh cholesterol is normally assumed to be affected mostly by your diet and physical activity, and that is true (sometimes). <\/p>\n
But a new study in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease<\/em> now shows there is another factor that has a much stronger impact on your cholesterol.<\/p>\n And this factor maybe more fun to manage than your diet.<\/p>\n The study authors analyzed the data of 1,054 people collected by Midlife in the U.S.. They were between the ages 34 and 84, with 55% being female.<\/p>\n They compared their psychological wellbeing with their cholesterol levels over a period of 10 years.<\/p>\n The concept of psychological wellbeing they used was not depression or anxiety or the absence of these, but rather a more advanced concept that included: <\/p>\n – personal independence and freedom, Interestingly, they found that most adults either enjoyed persistent psychological wellbeing or languished persistently without it over time.<\/p>\n The psychologically comfortable people had higher levels of HDL cholesterol (the good type) and lower levels of triglycerides (fat) than those in poor psychological health.<\/p>\n They did, however, not find any relationship between psychology and LDL cholesterol (the bad type), with both groups scoring roughly the same on it.<\/p>\n This means that psychological wellbeing can help us predict HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.<\/p>\n This shows why it is so important to feel like we are in control of our lives, to feel that our lives are meaningful and satisfying, and to like ourselves.<\/p>\n So, if we try to improve those factors, we can improve our cholesterol level at the same time. And who wouldn\u2019t enjoy doing that.<\/p>\n
\n– personal growth,
\n– healthy relationships,
\n– the feeling of controlling the environment,
\n– the feeling of having a purpose in life,
\n– and self-acceptance.<\/p>\n