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• Disclaimer

  The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you plan to start a cholesterol management program, please consult your doctor.

• Research indicates that high cholesterol levels are associated with certain medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke and the risk of dementia.MedlinePlus: Cholesterol WebMD: Cholesterol Health Center Medheadlines: Good Cholesterol Staves Off Memory Loss, Dementia (July 1, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Good cholesterol: HDLAmerican Heart Association: Your HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level
  2. Bad cholesterol: LDLAmerican Heart Association: Your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
  3. Total should be under 200American Heart Association: Your Total Blood (or Serum) Cholesterol Level
  4. Optimal HDL: Over 60National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?
  5. Optimal LDL: Under 100National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

• Cholesterol Diet

  Weight loss, as well as reducing saturated fat and cholesterol from food, can help to lower LDL and raise HDL levels.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

  Some foods are known to help lower LDL cholesterol numbers. Try adding these to your diet to help reduce LDL:

  • Walnuts
  • Oat Bran
  • Fatty Fish
  • Foods with Plant Sterol
  • Oatmeal

  Other foods and drinks can help raise the HDL level. These include:

  • Red Wine (no more than 2 glasses per day)
  • Dark Chocolate (Small amount, 70%)
  • Green Tea (brewed, not instant)

• Exercise

  Duke University researchers found in 2002 that exercise could affect cholesterol levels, even without changes in diet.eMedicine: Research on Exercise Regularly exercising 30 minutes or more a day can help raise HDL and lower LDL.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

• Medication

  When diet and exercise fail to effectively adjust the levels of LDL and HDL, medication can be used to help manage cholesterol levels. Commonly prescribed medications include statins, bile-acid-binding resins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors.MayoClinic.com: Treatments and Drugs

• Related Mahalo Pages

  How to Lower Your Cholesterol | High Cholesterol | How to Eat More Fiber | Heart Disease | Obesity | How to Read Food Labels | Heart Attack | High Blood Pressure | Ornish Diet | Glucomannan | How to Raise Your HDL Level

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