5 Ways To Keep Cholesterol Low

3. Get a Handle On Your Vices

If you’re a smoker, this is a perfect opportunity to finally quit. Not only will quitting smoking improve your HDL cholesterol level, but it comes with a host of other perks. After just 20 minutes following your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure will both decrease. Within one year, your risk of heart disease will be 50% less. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease will be as low as a non-smoker’s.

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may improve your HDL levels, but that’s not a good reason to start drinking if you don’t currently drink. If you do currently drink alcohol, make sure to only drink it in moderation. For adults, that means one drink per day for women and for men who are over the age of 65, and two drinks for men who are under the age of 65.