You and your doctor will work together to create a plan that helps lower your bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol levels to improve heart health. That may include maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, or possibly medication. This way of eating is a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet that encourages people to eat foods such as fish, nuts, lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Various books on the TLC diet are available to purchase online and may help those interested in following the diet plan to lower cholesterol. Proper weight management is another essential part of lowering cholesterol and preventing it building up. Overweight people who reduce their weight can help lower LDL in the process. Losing weight is especially important for overweight individuals with increased risk factors such as low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can make a huge difference. Get the kids involved and go for a bike ride or toss the ball in the yard. When these steps are not enough, drug treatment may also be needed. Women going through menopause and adults with high levels of cholesterol may also want to consider medication that will help reduce cholesterol levels more rapidly than lifestyle changes alone. Talk to your doctor about if medication is the right choice for you. Generally, the earlier an adult starts living a healthful lifestyle, the better for their cholesterol levels. High cholesterol at any age puts a person at risk for heart disease, heart attack and strokes. These risks only increase over time, especially for adults who are not taking action to reduce their cholesterol buildup.