High cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although your high cholesterol may be due to a genetic defect, it can also be significantly affected by your diet and lifestyle. Regular physical activity can have many health benefits including improved cholesterol. In addition, following a healthy balanced diet high in whole grains and fruits and vegetables is recommended as well as reducing consumption of dietary cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats, and alcohol. For more information on how you can improve your cholesterol levels through diet, check out the links below.

• Dietary Guidelines for High Cholesterol (.pdf)
• Facts on Cholesterol
• Cholesterol Control through Food and Activity
• Food Sources of Cholesterol
• Dietary Cholesterol Fact Sheet (.pdf)
• Learn Your Lipids
• Heart Healthy Dining Out: Tips from the American Heart Association
• Facts on Plant Sterols (from the Hamilton Family Health Team (.pdf)
• Coping with Cholesterol (.pdf)
• The Portfolio Diet (by Dr. David Jenkins, handout created by Robarts Research Institute)
• Heart & Stroke Podcast -

  http://www.heartandstroke.ca/articles/born-with-a-silent-killer