Manage blood lipids through the overall diet: emphasize vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean protein, and unsaturated fats, while reducing processed foods, saturated fat, added sugar, and alcohol as appropriate.
Lifestyle changes may be sufficient for some people. Others with inherited risk, existing conditions, or higher overall risk may also need lipid-lowering medication as part of cardiovascular care.
Things you can start doing
Start with practical steps.
- Ask your doctor about overall cardiovascular risk and treatment targets, rather than total cholesterol alone.
- Replace some fried/processed meat meals with fish, beans, tofu, or lean protein.
- Review follow-up blood results before changing or stopping medication.
