High cholesterol is a dangerous condition that should not be ignored. Fortunately, there are clear steps you can take to lower your cholesterol, and enjoy the health benefits of keeping your cholesterol at safe levels

Cholesterol is fatty substance found in the bloodstream and in all the body cells. Cholesterol is constantly present in a healthy human body, which can manufacture cholesterol. Cholesterol also enters the body through the food that we eat. Through factors such as an unhealthy diet, the body's cholesterol can rise to a harmful level.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC_WhatIs.html

Cholesterol levels that are not within healthy limits have a negative effect on our bodies. HIgh cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/stroke/

When your doctor provides you with your cholesterol levels, you are generally given two numbers. These are the HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.

LDL is considered to be "bad cholesterol." It is a fat-like substance that increases your risk of heart disease.http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/c/cholesterol.htm WebMD suggests that in general, it's good to have your LDL level under 100mg/dL.http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/4-tips-lower-cholesterol-fast?page=2

HDL is the "good cholesterol." This number you want to be higher, since HDL cholesterol helps reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in your body.http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/c/cholesterol.htm According to WebMD, the ideal number for HDL cholesterol is at least 60mg/dL.http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/4-tips-lower-cholesterol-fast?page=2

Women tend to have higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels than men.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=183

1. Consult your doctor before taking any steps to lower your cholesterol.
2. Get plenty of fiber in your diet.
3. Avoid eating processed meats and whole eggs.
4. If you smoke, quit!
5. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.
6. Eat good fats, like canola oil, and avoid bad fats, such as trans fats.
7. Talk to your health care provider about whether you should be taking statins.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor adviser before using the information presented here.

The cholesterol that you eat mainly comes from animal sources, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. But cutting animal products from your diet won't necessarily eliminate the cholesterol. Saturated fats and trans fats actually trigger your body to make cholesterol on its own.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514

Always read the nutrition labels on the foods you're buying. Just because something is labeled as "healthy" or "low fat" does not automatically mean that it is a good choice for you. Lowering your cholesterol by controlling your diet means adding more of some foods, and cutting back on or completely eliminating others.

Visit Mahalo's guide on how to read food labels to get started.

1. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat at least 25 grams of dietary fiber every day day.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514 To do this, try adding these foods to your diet: whole grain breads and pastas, barley, oat branhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002, raw vegetables and fruits, brown rice, and walnuts and almondshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002 (in small quantities, as they are high in calories).http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/CL/00002.html
2. Add more oatmeal to your diet.http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/eating-your-way-to-lower-cholesterol/
3. Add Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, Omega-3 fatty acids help lower your cholesterol.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002 Sources include fish such as herring, albacore tuna, lake trout, and salmon, as well as flaxseeds and canola oil.

1. The American Heart Association recommends you avoid eating whole eggs. You can substitute two egg whites for one whole egg in recipes.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514
2. Also, avoid shellfish, liver, full-fat dairy products and processed meats.
3. According to the American Heart Association, it's best to to eat less than 6 ounces of lean meat (that includes red meat, poultry or fish) daily, and prepare it by grilling or broiling rather than frying.http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514
4. Keep your intake of trans-fats and partially hydrogenated fats to a minimum, and try to eliminate them entirely.
5. The University of Michigan Health System says that overall, fats of any kind should not make up more than one quarter of your daily calorie intake.http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_hmctrlch_crs.htm
6. The New York Times Well Blog suggests you remove the skin from poultry before cooking.http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/eating-your-way-to-lower-cholesterol/
7. Use olive oil in place of other oils or fats in your recipes, says the Mayo Clinic.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002
8. The American Heart Association recommends that you keep your overall food intake of cholesterol under 200 mg per day.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514

If you still need help whipping your diet into heart-healthy shape, visit Mahalo's other health guides, including How to Eat Healthy Foods, How to Eat Healthy Snacks and How to Make Healthy Ingredient Substitutions.

How much exercise you get can affect your cholesterol. The American Heart Association says exercise can increase your HDL levels, which is the good cholesterol.American Heart Association: Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol

1. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate, heart-rate boosting physical activity every day. According to the American Heart Association, even if you can't fit in a solid 30 minute workout, two 15 minute workouts will give you the same benefits.American Heart Association: Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol If you're out of shape, try taking two short walks per day. Consider investing in a pedometer for motivation to improve the length and speed of your walks.Web MD: 4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast
2. In addition to aerobic exercise, Reader's Digest reports that strength training has also been shown to reduce high levels of cholesterol.ReadersDigest.com: Lower Your Cholesterol Consider adding weight lifting, Pilates or yoga to your exercise routine to get the benefits of strength training.

• In addition to improving your diet and getting more exercise, there are other aspects of your daily life that can affect your cholesterol.

1. If you smoke, quit. And even if you don't smoke, make a point to avoid tobacco smoke.American Heart Association: Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol Smokers also have less capability for physical exercise, which you'll need to help your reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind).
   • The American Heart Association has found that smoking also lowers your HDL (the good kind) cholesterol level.American Heart Association: Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol
2. If you're overweight, lose weight.Web MD: 4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast In addition to benefits from exercising and eating right, simply losing weight will help lower your cholesterol. According to FamilyDoctor.org, losing just 5-10 pounds may make your bad cholesterol levels lower.FamilyDoctor.org: Cholesterol: What Your Level Means If you've already improved your diet and added exercise to your routine but you are still carrying around extra weight, you may want to reduce your overall calorie intake to lose pounds and reduce your cholesterol even further.Web MD: 4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast
3. FamilyDoctor.org also recommends limiting your consumption of alcohol.FamilyDoctor.org: Medicines

• Doctors often recommend changes to your eating habits and lifestyle before prescribing medication to lower your cholesterol.American Heart Association: Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol If these changes don't work, or don't work fast enough, cholesterol medication may be right for you.

• WebMD advises that your doctor also may suggest you try cholesterol medication right away if you have high cholesterol combined with other issues like diabetes or heart disease.Web MD: 4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast

• Some of the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications include:

1. Statins which work by blocking the enzyme that helps manufacture cholesterol in your body.Web MD: 4 Tips for Lower Cholesterol Fast
2. Resins, which work by lowering your LDL cholesterol level.FamilyDoctor.org: Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines
3. Fibrates which work by increasing HDL cholesterol levels and also cutting down your body's triglycerides.FamilyDoctor.org: Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines
4. Niacin which works by lowering both your LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides and also boosting your HDL cholesterol levels HealthScout.com: Cholesterol - Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

These medications may cause side effects and have negative interactions with other drugs you are taking. Your doctor can help you decide on the correct medication and dosage for you.