Animal foods contain dietary cholesterol, but saturated and trans fats have a larger impact on LDL. Lower your cholesterol by choosing plant-based foods, unsaturated fats, fish, and soluble fiber while limiting red/processed meat, full-fat dairy, and trans fats.
Cholesterol is essential, but too much LDL raises heart risk. Lower LDL by limiting saturated and trans fats, increasing soluble fiber, choosing unsaturated oils, and eating whole foods.
Cholesterol is essential but can raise heart disease risk when levels are high. Understand LDL, HDL and triglycerides, common total-cholesterol categories, major risk factors, and practical steps to lower risk.
Lowering LDL cholesterol works best by cutting saturated/trans fats, boosting soluble fiber, and choosing plant-forward foods. Dietary cholesterol (only in animal foods) matters less than the type of fat and overall pattern.
High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms - it is detected by blood tests. Complications include angina or heart attack, stroke (FAST), and peripheral artery disease; lifestyle changes and medications can lower risk.
High cholesterol stems from diet, lifestyle, medical conditions, and genetics. Early screening, healthier eating, regular activity, and - when needed - medications like statins reduce long-term heart and stroke risk.
Cholesterol and diet are closely linked: foods high in saturated and trans fats raise LDL, while fiber, unsaturated fats, and patterns like the Mediterranean diet lower risk. Combine diet, activity, and medical evaluation to manage cholesterol effectively.
Adopt a sustainable, whole-foods approach to lower cholesterol: prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and soluble fiber, limit saturated fats and sweets, and pair diet changes with about 150 minutes a week of activity.
Cholesterol is essential but higher LDL increases heart disease risk. Replace saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats, favor a Mediterranean-style pattern, and include marine omega-3s to lower triglycerides. Work with your clinician for personalized targets and, if needed, medication.
Hypothyroidism often raises LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Causes include autoimmune disease and some cancer therapies. Treatment with levothyroxine usually lowers cholesterol, but persistent dyslipidemia may require statins and lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol is essential for cells, hormones, and vitamin D. The liver makes most cholesterol; dietary saturated fats have the strongest effect on raising LDL. You can lower LDL with soluble fiber, unsaturated fats, plant sterols, weight loss, and exercise. Discuss individual targets with your clinician.
To lower LDL cholesterol, limit saturated fats, trans fats, fried foods, and high-fat dairy. Choose vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fatty fish, and unsaturated oils. Combine diet with exercise and medical guidance.
Updated guidance on lowering high cholesterol: assess cardiovascular risk, start with lifestyle changes, use statins as first-line therapy, and add newer nonstatin drugs when needed.
Cholesterol testing detects elevated LDL and other lipid issues before symptoms, allowing lifestyle changes or medications to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. Start screening in early adulthood, repeat periodically, and follow clinician guidance on treatment.
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides often rise in pregnancy and are usually temporary, but markedly abnormal levels can increase preeclampsia risk and may influence early fetal arterial changes. Discuss testing and management with your obstetrician and a lipid or maternal-fetal specialist.
Cholesterol balance matters for heart and stroke risk. Combine diet, exercise, weight control, smoking cessation, stress management and, when needed, medications - guided by regular testing - to lower your risk.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) provides cardiovascular benefits beyond LDL lowering - reduced recurrent heart attack and stroke risk, lower postoperative atrial fibrillation, and benefit in coronary disease. Evidence in heart failure is mixed. Discuss dosing and safety with your clinician.
Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products; to lower blood cholesterol focus on reducing saturated and trans fats, choosing plant-forward foods, and adding fiber-rich whole grains, beans, nuts, and healthy oils.
A clear, up-to-date guide to what cholesterol does, how LDL and HDL affect cardiovascular risk, which foods and habits raise cholesterol, and practical steps to lower it.
High cholesterol results from diet, lifestyle, genetics, and other health conditions. You can lower LDL and improve lipids with diet changes, exercise, quitting smoking, and, when needed, medication.
A Complete Lipid Profile measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Modern care uses these results plus your overall cardiovascular risk to guide lifestyle steps and, when needed, statin therapy.
High LDL cholesterol results from genetics, diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. Most people can lower risk by improving diet, exercising, managing health conditions, and - when needed - using medications.