About Lowering Cholesterol

With a few lifestyle adjustments, such as a healthy diet and exercise, lowering cholesterol is possible for most people. Sometimes, though, diet and exercise is not enough. In these cases, medication in combination with a healthy diet and moderate exercise is often effective.

Foods to Avoid

• Foods that are made from animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs increase the amount of cholesterol in the body. Anything with high saturated and/or trans fats can raise LDL cholesterol. In fact, trans fats have shown they can induce the body to produce more cholesterol on its own. The American Heart Association recommends not getting more than 35 percent of your calories from fat. Of that 35 percent, they recommend not eating more than seven percent, and less than one percent saturated fat and trans fat, respectively.

Foods to Eat

• Some foods can lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and increase HDL ("good") cholesterol. These foods include whole grains, vegetables and fruits. The American Heart Association recommends eating 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day.

Exercise

• The American Heart Association recommends doing some sort of physical activity for at least half an hour every day. Increased physical activity can produce more HDL cholesterol, which has been linked to lower rates of heart disease. You can break the activity into three 10-minute or two 15-minute sessions to get started.

Types of Medication

• There are many types of medication that can control cholesterol. Some, such as statins, prevent it from being made by the body. Others, such as selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors, prevent the intestines from absorbing cholesterol. Resins (also known as bile acid sequestrant or bile acid-binding drugs) work to dispose of the cholesterol. Fibrates (fibric acid derivatives) focus on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL; they are not effective at lowering LDL cholesterol. Similarly, niacin works to lower triglycerides and raise HDL, but it also does lower LDL cholesterol.

Lifestyle Changes

• Smoking has been shown as a risk factor in heart disease, especially in combination with high cholesterol. Stress may also be a factor in raising cholesterol levels.