LDL Up

• Foods that cause high cholesterol are typically laden with saturated fats or trans fats. Saturated fats are the biggest dietary enemy and are found in all animal products and some vegetable oils, such as coconut and palm oils. Trans fats are derived from hydrogenated oils and are found in stick margarine, shortening, crackers, cookies, donuts and fried chicken and French fries. These cholesterol elevating foods should be limited to 7 percent of dietary intake, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
  
  

LDL Down

• Foods that lower cholesterol are those containing plant stanols and sterols such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, vegetable oils, cereals, seeds and wheat germ. These foods along with oats, barley, millet and other grains also contain soluble fiber. Taken at 25 mg per day, soluble fiber is a highly capable LDL fighter, according to the Daily Health Bulletin. Other noted cholesterol combatants are fenugreek, a seed ground into powder and available in capsule form, and red yeast rice, which is a naturally occurring low-dose statin.
  
  

A Symptom of Something Else

• Dietary intake, however, is not the only possible cause of elevated cholesterol levels. Genetic predisposition as well as age and gender―men, 45 years and older; women, 55 years and older―are factors that are not within one's control. Additionally, certain conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease or liver disease and certain drugs such as corticosteroids, anabolic steroids or progesterone can bring about elevated levels of cholesterol, according to babyboomercaretaker.com.
  
  

Treatment

• Where dietary adjustments and exercise do not bring cholesterol to desired levels, pharmaceutical intervention is indicated. There are five major types of cholesterol-lowering drugs with LDL reduction capability: statins; Ezetimbe; bile acid resins; nicotine acid; and fibrates, which lower triglycerides, raise HDL levels, and minimally reduce LDL levels, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
  
  

Unchecked Risk

• A desirable total cholesterol level should be under 200 milligrams per deciliter, with LDL cholesterol optimally under 100 mg/dL and HDL cholesterol between 40 mg/dL and 60 mg/dL or higher, which is considered protective. If not well managed, uncontrolled cholesterol levels are implicated in the development of coronary heart disease, strokes, some forms of cancer and atherosclerosis. As noted in Biochemistry, a text made available online by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, "atherosclerosis ... is the leading cause of death in industrialized societies."