Q I have high good cholesterol and equally high bad cholesterol. What should I do to change my eating habits and lifestyle so that I lower the bad cholesterol without lowering the good cholesterol level?

A A raised LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) level translates to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. The aim of treatment is to lower the LDL cholesterol, raise the HDL or good cholesterol and lower the triglycerides to a normal level.

Lowering the LDL cholesterol is the most important in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Diet modification tends to help people lower triglycerides and raise good cholesterol, but it is less likely to have a huge impact on bad cholesterol.

You should avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. These include egg yolks, fatty meats, and full-fat dairy products. Avoid trans fats, found in fried and processed foods.

Certain foods, eaten in moderation, can improve your cholesterol levels.

They include fatty fish (tuna and salmon), green vegetables, nuts including walnuts and almonds (above), oats and garlic. However, these have not been shown to raise HDL cholesterol levels significantly.

Lose weight if you are overweight, exercise frequently and consistently, and give up smoking.

Your doctor can determine your target goal for your LDL cholesterol based on your risk factors for heart diseases. If you cannot meet this target with lifestyle changes, you may need to take medication.

Dr Stanley Liew Dr Stanley Liew is a specialist in endocrinology at Raffles Hospital

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.