What Is Good for Lowering Cholesterol?

by Alexandra Haller

Overview

Typically when we talk about lowering cholesterol, we are referring to the LDL (low-density lipoproteins) levels, also known as "bad" cholesterol. High cholesterol is bad because it puts you at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. In order to lower cholesterol, you have to make some lifestyle changes and, as a last resort, you might need take some medication.
Restrict High-Cholesterol Foods

Cholesterol is found in fatty cuts of meat, eggs and whole milk. Choose lean cuts of meat instead and aim for a few meat-free meals each week.

Eat More Fiber

Diets that have proper amounts of soluble fiber do more to decrease cholesterol levels than simply cutting back on fats alone. Eat more slow-cooked oatmeal and oat breads.
Get More Exercise

A daily walk of 30 minutes can go a long way towards increasing your HDL "good" cholesterol levels. Even if you don't need to lose weight, exercise helps because good cholesterol fights the bad cholesterol.
Quit Smoking

You know that smoking is bad for you and if you still puff, quit now. The benefits of quitting smoking run past just lowering your bad cholesterol numbers and into lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease and blood pressure.
Lose Weight

Even if you are not excessively overweight, cholesterol can still plague your body if you need to shed pounds. Simply losing five to 10 pounds can decrease your cholesterol numbers.
Consider Medication

Depending on your cholesterol levels and the attempts you've made to lower your LDL cholesterol on your own, your doctor might suggest medications that can help.

Overview