Home » Your Health » 12 Ways to Manage High Cholesterol

12 Ways to Manage High Cholesterol

By: Dr. Gerald Morris on Thursday, September 1st

High cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, is a condition characterized by excessive levels of fats, or lipids, in the blood. It is a common disease in the United States with over three-million new diagnoses recorded per year. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends all adults 20-years and older be screened for hyperlipidemia at least every five-years. Screening is done with a blood test called a fasting (nothing to eat 8 to 12 hours prior to blood draw) lipid panel. A normal test is total cholesterol <200, LDL (“bad” cholesterol) <160, HDL (“good” cholesterol) >40, and triglycerides <150.

Twelve ways to manage high cholesterol include…

1. Diet

High cholesterol has the potential to accelerate atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries caused by deposition of fats and cholesterol. A diet with reduced intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol is recommended for individuals with hyperlipidemia. This type of diet is often referred to as a “Mediterranean diet.” Olive oil is the staple fat of this diet. A diet of varied, colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains is also recommended for hyperlipidemia.

Individuals with hyperlipidemia should also increase their intake of fiber, which has the potential to decrease cholesterol levels by as much as 10-percent. Fish, nuts, and beans and other legumes should also be included in the diet. Reduced intake of red meat, processed meats, and fried foods is recommended. Dairy products should be low fat or fat free. For example, skim milk is a better choice than whole milk.

red meat steak

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack vs. Heart Failure: 12 Key Differences

You'll often hear the terms heart attack and cardiac arrest used interchangeably, but in reality they aren't the same thing.

Your Health
Busting Through 12 Myths About Strokes

Strokes are a common occurrence that can change people's lives forever – in some cases, there's almost complete recovery, while in other cases, it can land a patient in a...

Your Health
13 Hard-To-Recognize Heart Attack Symptoms

When we see a heart attack depicted in films, it's usually a very obvious pain in the chest that has the victim clutching at their chest.

Your Health
Fatty Liver Disease: The Most Common Symptoms

According to doctors, a fatty liver isn’t damaging to the body on its own accord. However, the accumulation of excessive fatty tissue can lead to severe liver damage—including...

Your Health
Telling Signs & Symptoms of Liver Damage

Liver damage can include anything from heredity (i.e., inherited from a family member), toxicity (i.e., due to chemicals or viruses) to a long-term disease (i.e.

Your Health
7 Diabetes Risk Factors That Aren't Sweet

Some people think that simply eating too much sugar is the main risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, but it's more complicated than that.

Your Health
6 Things to Know About Diabetic Retinopathy

For those with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, there is a risk of developing an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy.

Your Health
Filtering Out 6 Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease

Your kidneys are essential in removing waste from your bloodstream (and forming urine) among other functions, and if they aren't functioning properly, there can be major health...

Your Health
Myalgia: 6 Common Reasons for Experiencing Muscle Pain

Better known as muscle pain, myalgia is a kind of musculoskeletal discomfort that affects almost everyone at some point throughout his or her life.

Your Health
The Top 7 Ways to Use Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has gained tremendous popularity of late for its wide variety of applications that help to rid the body of toxins.

Your Health
8 Top Health Scandal Headlines of 2016

The year 2016 rocked the world in many ways, and the health world wasn't spared either.

Your Health
7 BIG Fat Myths You Should Ignore

Fat gets a bad rap. You likely know by now that fats come in a few categories—good vs. bad fats, and saturated vs. unsaturated vs. Trans vs. monounsaturated varieties.

Your Health
10 Need-to-Know Facts on Cholesterol

When it comes to heart health, your cholesterol can be viewed as a primary building block in a good, solid foundation.

Your Health
6 Causes of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a thick substance that can be found in the blood. While some cholesterol is good—your body actually needs it to build healthy cells—having very high cholesterol...

Your Health
The Warning Signs of Heart Attacks in Men

What if you could tell when you're about to have a heart attack? It turns out there are signs in men that can warn you a cardiac episode is possibly on the way, so you can seek...

Your Health