Eat to lower LDL
- Swap saturated fat (fatty meat, butter, pastries) for unsaturated fats — olive/rapeseed oil, nuts, avocado, oily fish
- Eat more soluble fibre — oats, beans, lentils, fruit and veg
- Include foods with plant stanols/sterols if advised
- Cut down on trans fats and heavily processed foods
Move, and manage your weight
Regular activity raises protective HDL and lowers triglycerides. Losing excess weight — especially around the middle — improves your whole lipid profile. Aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.
Other lifestyle levers
Stopping smoking improves HDL and blood-vessel health, and limiting alcohol lowers triglycerides. These changes also cut your wider heart-disease risk.
When you need medication
If your cholesterol stays high, or your overall heart risk is raised, your clinician may recommend a statin or other medicine. These are well-studied and work alongside — not instead of — a healthy diet. Never stop prescribed medication without advice.