he main aim of lowering cholesterol is to reduce the risk of heart disease. The type of treatment depends on the overall risk of heart disease.
There are two ways to help lower high cholesterol. The first is with simple lifestyle changes including changing diet, managing weight and increasing exercise. The second is to combine lifestyle changes with cholesterol-lowering medicines.
Diet
Healthy eating can reduce cholesterol. Your diet should be low in saturated fats in particular, and low in fat overall. Biscuits, cakes, pastries, red meat, hard cheese, butter and foods containing coconut or palm oil all tend to be high in saturated fats, so cut down on these foods.
Large amounts of cholesterol are found in a few foods, including eggs and offal such as liver and kidneys. Although dietary cholesterol does not usually contribute much to blood cholesterol, it is still advisable to limit these foods to three servings a week if you have high cholesterol.
It's also important to eat plenty of fibre, especially soluble fibre, which is thought to lower cholesterol. It's found in fruits and vegetables, beans and oats. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. For more information see the BUPA factsheet, Healthy eating.
There is some evidence that foods containing substances called plant sterols or plant stanols, such as the brands Benecol or Flora pro.activ, in combination with a low fat diet and physical activity, can help to lower cholesterol.