To help keep you in top health, our experts recommend these steps:

• Adjust your diet. The dietary options for lowering cholesterol are nearly endless. From more fiber to more healthy fat—think walnuts, almonds, fish, and olive oil—there are plenty of places to make dietary changes that support lower cholesterol levels. Select Eating Right, above, for more information.
• Supplement with savvy. Some people require medications to manage high cholesterol, but for others, a few smart supplement choices can bring numbers back into the normal range. Plant-derived substances called sterols and stanols are one option. Click on Vitamins, above, for more information.
• Lose weight, lose the meds. To reduce the need for cholesterol-lowering medications, focus on shedding excess pounds. Losing just five to ten percent of your body weight—that’s 9 to 18 pounds on a 180-pound person—can bring down LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. Select Eating Right, above, for more information.
• Move toward health. Consider a tool, such as a pedometer to up your game. For some people, tracking steps taken per day, or other get-fit activities, is a great motivator to reaching better health. Select Personal Care, above, for more ideas on tools for a healthier life.