Cholesterol, a fatlike substance found in body cells, actually serves to make hormones and vitamin D and other substances to help with food digestion.

Since the body manufactures the cholesterol needed, some foods contain the fatlike substance which raise the levels.Cholesterol flows in our bloodstream in packets called lipoproteins. There are two kinds of lipoproteins, one is of low-density (LDL), and the other is high-density (HDL). Both serve a purpose and are needed by the body. What gets our body in trouble is having too high a level of LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol which causes a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.The other type of lipoprotein, HDL, referred to as the "good" cholesterol, carries the fatlike substance from other parts of your body to your liver, which removes it from your body.The alarming result of having a high level of LDL cholesterol is a greater chance of getting coronary heart disease. However, the more HDL cholesterol in the blood, the lower the disease risk.Medical professionals suggest that diet and weight loss should be the first strategy before taking statin drugs. I experimented with diet to see if my cholesterol could lower through eating differently after receiving a 228 cholesterol blood test reading.The foods I eliminated from meals were all oils, dairy products, red meats, and even chicken. The provisions added were legumes, fish, vegetables (roasted or steamed,) fruits, and other plant-based products.Within two months, my cholesterol lowered to 208. Yes, in two months. That was my experience, so I don't know if others would have the same results.However, studies of a particular indigenous group located in the Bolivian Amazon, a forager-horticultural population, found they had the lowest prevalence of hardening of the arteries over any other population.Scientists discovered an 80-year-old individual living in that culture had the same vascular age as a 50-year-old American. Their diets consists of low saturated fats and high in unprocessed fiber-rich carbohydrates, which also includes wild game and fish. They do not smoke and remain active throughout the day. Medical industry suggests:Eat the right fats. Consume unsaturated fats which helps lower LDL. Use oils like canola, safflower, sunflower, olive, grapeseed and peanut (plant-based). Also eat seeds, nuts, avocados and fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, herring and mackerel.Being overweight tends to raise the LDL level and lower the HDL levels. Doctors say even losing just 10 pounds can reduce your LDL by up to 8 percent. So, combining daily exercise with a healthier diet helps you shed pounds, lowers LDL cholesterol, and helps you feel better.Smoking cigarettes lowers the good HDL, moderate drinking of alcohol (red wine) increases HDL. However, too much drinking leads to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke.How much is moderate drinking? For women, it's one daily; for men 65 and younger, two drinks. For those over 65, one drink.Carol Marak is an aging advocate and editor at Seniorcare.com.