What Influences HDL Levels?

High HDL cholesterol protects against heart attacks and is known as "good" cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. High LDL cholesterol is known as "bad" cholesterol and results in atherosclerosis and increased risk for heart attacks. HDL cholesterol also helps protect against the buildup of cholesterol in arteries, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Patients with high cholesterol should strive to make lifestyle changes aimed at raising HDL cholesterol and lowering LDL cholesterol levels.

Physical Activity

• Exercising regularly will help increase HDL cholesterol levels.

  Exercising on a regular basis significantly increases HDL cholesterol levels, according to the American Heart Association. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute suggests exercising 30 minutes a day on most days to increase HDL cholesterol levels.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption

• Having some wine each day after dinner can help increase HDL cholesterol levels.

  Moderate alcohol consumption increases HDL cholesterol levels, according to the Journal of Lipid Research. Moderate drinking is defined as consuming no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink for women, according to SUNY Potsdam. This figure is referring to the amount of alcohol a person drinks in one day and not as an average over several days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Having nine drinks in one day, for instance, is not considered healthy and can lead to liver cirrhosis, memory lapse, heart disease, stroke and hypertension, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Weight Loss

• Losing weight is one of the best things you can do to increase your HDL cholesterol.

  Losing weight helps raise HDL cholesterol levels, according to Rob Danoff D.O. of MSN Health and Fitness. Weight loss combined with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean or low-fat diet helps raise HDL cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Smoking

• Smoking not only lowers HDL cholesterol levels; it also increases the risk for heart disease.

  Smoking significantly lowers HDL cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart disease and smokers have twice the risk of heart attack than non-smokers, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.

Fats

• Adding olive oil to a salad each day can increase HDL cholesterol levels.

  Monosaturated and polysaturated fats increase HDL cholesterol levels while lowering LDL cholesterol levels, according to the University of Arizona. Olives, peanut oils, sunflower and coin oils are high in monosatrated and polysaturated fats. Trans fats raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Packaged foods, some fast foods, frozen food and baked goods have trans fats, according to the University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education.

Niacin

• Try taking a niacin supplement each day to raise your HDL cholesterol levels.

  Recent scientific studies suggest that niacin (Vitamin B3) helps raise HDL cholesterol levels, according to Michael Poon, MD, chief of cardiology at the Cabrini Medical Center in New York. Taking between 500 and 1,000 milligram supplements of niacin can help raise HDL cholesterol levels.

Orange Juice

• Waking up and drinking a glass of orange juice each day is a simple way to raise your HDL cholesterol levels.

  Drinking 750 milliliters of orange juice each day can increase HDL cholesterol concentrations by as much as 21 percent, according to a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. High HDL cholesterol levels lead to a 33 percent decrease in the risk of cancer, according to Dr. Richard Karas, executive director of the Tufts Medical Center Molecular Cardiology Research Institute and lead author of a report in the June 22 issue of the Journal of American College of Cardiology.