High cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, can lead to Heart disease and it's a very serious condition. For this reason, physicians will strongly suggest that people lower their cholesterol. They can do this with medication but sometimes, people like to see if they can manage their cholesterol levels with diet and lifestyle. Several things that people can do to become healthier will help them to do exactly that.Drop the Extra WeightEven if all people have to lose is five pounds, losing this extra weight can make a big difference in their cholesterol levels.Consume Food Known to be Good for the HeartThese are foods that contain the Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids help the blood vessels rid themselves of fat that is currently present and will help prevent the buildup of plaque within the arteries.They can also reduce their consumption of saturated fats that are found in foods like dairy products. These saturated fats increase the body's levels of bad cholesterol. Trans fats are also not a good idea for those with high cholesterol to eat. They come from foods such as cookies, crackers and anything that has been fried. Eliminating these foods will also help these people to lose unwanted weight.ExerciseExercise is an effective way to lower cholesterol. Patients don't have to be overweight to exercise, they just have to want to decrease their cholesterol levels; it will also increase what is known as their good cholesterol. A decent work out time can be between 30 and 60 minutes. If patients need to begin slowly, they can exercise for 10 minutes and return at a later time for another 10 minutes throughout the day.Refrain from SmokingIf the patient smokes, quit now. Quitting encourages the good cholesterol to increase within the body. It also causes people's blood pressure to decrease and as time goes by, the benefits continue to increase. A former smoker is much healthier than a smoker.Don't Drink Too MuchDrinking too much alcohol can cause the patient's blood pressure to rise. It also can cause the heart to fail and has been implicated in the reason people have strokes. The daily recommended amount of alcohol for women is one drink and for men it's one or two at the most.The first steps toward more healthy living are always the hardest but once people have fallen into an enjoyable routine, they will lower their cholesterol and, hopefully, be able to manage their cholesterol without having to take medications.