Your body produces most of the cholesterol it needs, while 25 percent comes from food. This waxlike substance serves a variety of essential purposes in the body, such as cell wall functioning and the production of estrogen and testosterone. However, too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Types of Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is also called "bad" cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is referred to as "good" cholesterol. It cleans bad cholesterol out of the arteries, which helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. This condition is characterized by a buildup of cholesterol or plaque in the arteries, which causes them to become narrow and harden.
High Cholesterol Scores
A blood cholesterol test, or lipoprotein profile, gives a measure of your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, another type of blood lipid or fat. Total cholesterol is a measure of both HDL and LDL cholesterol; an optimal level is 200 mg/dL or less. If your number falls between 200 and 239 mg/dL, you have borderline high cholesterol, while 240 mg/dL or above is high.
Ideally, LDL levels should be less than 100 mg/dL; 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high; 160 to 189 mg/dL is high; while 190 mg/dL or above is very high. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that people older than 20 have their blood cholesterol levels checked every five years.
Causes
Several factors can increase your cholesterol levels, such as a diet rich in saturated and trans fats and dietary cholesterol, which is found in foods such as eggs and meat. Being overweight, getting older and having a family history of high cholesterol can also boost your cholesterol levels. If you smoke or have high blood pressure, you may also have a higher risk of developing high cholesterol.
Remedies
Dietary and lifestyle changes help to reduce cholesterol levels. Eat more plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains as these foods do not contain cholesterol. Limit your intake of meat and whole dairy, and eat egg whites instead of whole eggs. The American Heart Association also recommends exercising for 30 minutes a day most days of the week and quitting smoking.
Natural supplements such as garlic extract, fish oil and psyllium fiber can also help to reduce your cholesterol levels, according to MayoClinic.com. Consult your doctor about the best ways to use these remedies.
Medication
If dietary and lifestyle changes aren't effective, your doctor may recommend that you take a cholesterol-lowering drug. Statins prevent the liver from making cholesterol and are particularly effective at reducing LDL cholesterol, notes the American Heart Association. Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors prevent absorption of this fatty substance from the intestines. Niacin influences blood fat production in the liver and also helps to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.
