Take Control of Your High Cholesterol

Take control of your cholesterol to lower your heart disease risk. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

What You Need To Know:

• Cut the bad fats
  
  Foods that contain saturated fat, hydrogenated fat, and cholesterol (such as animal products, fried foods, and baked snacks) can raise cholesterol
• Reduce risk with fiber
  
  Add whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables to your meals to reduce heart disease risk
• Get some supplemental garlic
  
  600 to 900 mg a day of a standardized garlic extract may help lower cholesterol and prevent hardening of the arteries
• Add soy protein to your diet
  
  30 grams (about 1 ounce) a day of powdered soy protein added to food or drinks can help lower cholesterol
• Check out natural vegetable fats (plant sterols and stanols)
  
  Take 1.6 grams a day as a supplement or in specially fortified margarines to help reduce cholesterol
• Raise “good” cholesterol with exercise
  
  Start a regular exercise program to help raise HDL cholesterol

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full high cholesterol article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.