What are the factors that make cholesterol high or low?
Heredity plays a large role in determining your LDL cholesterol levels. One form of inherited high cholesterol affects 1 in 500 people. It is called familial hyercholesterolemia and often leads to early CHD. Diets high in saturated fat, mainly from foods that come from animals, often cause of LDL-cholesterol levels to increase. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet is a significant step in reducing blood cholesterol levels. Weight, in excess, tends to increase LDL-cholesterol levels. If you are overweight (please refer to the Body Mass Calculator found on the Advanced Diet page to determine your ideal body weight) losing weight may help lower triglycerides and raise HDL. Age affects LDL-cholesterol levels, especially in women. Prior to menopause, women most often have lower cholesterol levels than men of the same age. As women age, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about the age of 60 to 65. Menopause often increases LDL-cholesterol and decreases HDL-cholesterol. Af
