...n influencing youLDL-cholesterol level. Your genes influence how high you LDL("bad") cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made andremoved from the blood.Stress Stress over the long term has been shown in severalstudies to raise blood cholesterol levels. One way that stressmay do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when somepeople are under stress, they console themselves by eating fattyfoods.Alcohol consumption Alcohol intake increases HDL ("good")cholesterol but does not lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Butdrinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle,lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides. Because ofthe risks, the benefit isn't great enough to recommend drinkingalcohol if you don't do so already.Factors which Lower Cholesterol in the BodyGood Eating Habits Eating healthy is a vital part of loweringyou cholesterol. Increasing fiber intake by as little as 3 gramsper day can help lower cholesterol. Good sour...

...ces includeoatmeal, soy, legumes, some vegetables, and beans. A healthydiet includes minimal saturated fat. However, monounsaturatedfats (olive oils) have a positive effect on cholesterol. Alcoholshould also be kept to a minimum.Exercise Along with diet, exercising is an important part ofachieving a healthy cholesterol level. Being physically activecan help lower you cholesterol level, whether it involveseveryday activities like cleaning or gardening or structuredexercise program. Exercise sets off a series of enzymaticreactions in the body that increases HDL's and lowerstriglycerides. This will ultimately lower LDL's ("bad") andtotal cholesterol.Weight Loss This is actually the most significant independentcontributor to cholesterol reduction. While exercise and properdiet contribute to cholesterol reduction. In most cases weightloss must occur to see an improvement. The good news is thatonly a five percent weight loss can alter cholesterolsignificantly.