Are you looking into ways to reduce your level of cholesterol? Do you want to avoid having to take pills for the rest of your life to control your cholesterol level? In this article I write about my experiences and how I have managed to lower my own cholesterol rate without the need for tablets.

There has been a history of heart problems in my family and about a year ago my father suggested that I should request a cholesterol test. At the time I was thirty-two years of age and did not think that this was required but my father argued that I had nothing to lose etc.

I decided to go for the test and was very shocked when I heard the results as I had a cholesterol level of eight point eight. I was asked to book an appointment with the doctor to discuss the way forward.

The figure of eight point eight is high but is not the be all and end all as there is a more important figure to take into account. This is the risk factor of having a stroke or heart attack in the next ten years. The doctor explained that my risk factor was only seven point one and that it would only be a major concern if it were over fifteen.

This is of course was a great relief. I was informed that there are two types of cholesterol, basically one which is bad and one which they call happy cholesterol. Luckily for me I not only had a high bad cholesterol figure but also a high count of happy cholesterol. My blood pressure was fine as was all of the other types of test results.

Even though I was relieved that I was not in any major danger it was still very important for me to lower my cholesterol level as eight point eight was far too high. I had to make some huge lifestyle changes which at the time I believed would lower my standard of living, in reality it has improved it in a big way.

In a nutshell I have stopped drinking alcohol, I now exercise on a daily basis by taking my lovely dog on long walks and I now have a far healthier diet. All in all I am a lot fitter, stronger and happier person and my cholesterol level is now under five.