How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level 

Most people know that a high blood cholesterol level can lead to serious heart problems, like coronary artery (heart) disease. So many pre looking for ways to reduce cholesterol levels.  

But exactly how do you reduce cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes?

With cholesterol medication commercials on TV and in almost every magazine, it would be easy to think that the only way to reduce cholesterol is through cholesterol medications. For some people, this is true, but not for all. 

The first step in reducing cholesterol is to know what your numbers are and what they mean. There are several components to your "cholesterol numbers."

LDL is the so called "bad" cholesterol, which clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. This number should optimally be below 100mg/dL. LDL stands for low density lipoproteins.

HDL, or good cholesterol, attaches to LDL cholesterol and transports it to the liver, where it is then "out-processed." HDL stands for high density lipoproteins, and they help reduce bad cholesterol levels. This number should be at least 60mg/DL.

When your doctor refers to "total cholesterol," this means the total of LDL and HDL added together. This number is not as important as your individual numbers.

To reduce cholesterol, first start by eating a diet low in saturated fats and trans fats. Because your body makes all the cholesterol you need, you don’t actually need to take in cholesterol from food.

In addition to limiting certain foods, you can eat fatty fish, nuts (particularly walnuts and almonds), oatmeal and bran, and foods with added stanols.

Aerobic exercise, including just walking more throughout the day, can help lower your bad cholesterol too. It can also help shed pounds that may be increase your heart disease risk. As you add exercise to your life, it helps you to create an overall healthy lifestyle.

Weight loss is an important way to lower LDL and raise HDL. A proper diet and exercise routine can help with weight loss, and all of these activities combined can have a very significant effectin lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

If your lifestyle changes do not lower your cholesterol significantly, or you have other risk factors, your doctor may choose to prescribe cholesterol lowering medications. The most prescribed medications, statins, block the effects of an enzyme that creates cholesterol. Other medications may be used, as well, depending on your particular situation. 

We have related information on ways of lowering cholesterol levels and how to lower cholesterol without medications.
 

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