Cholesterol Guides
Evidence-based guides to cholesterol numbers, diet, and treatment options.
Cholesterol GuidesStatin Side Effects: What the Trials Actually Found
15 Guides
CholesterolStatin Side Effects: What the Trials Actually Found
Real numbers behind statin side effects: the 123,940 person CTT trial, the SAMSON nocebo study, and honest rhabdomyolysis and diabetes risk data.
CholesterolEnlicitide (Lipfendra): What the New Cholesterol Pill Does
Enlicitide (Lipfendra) lowers LDL by up to 59% in trials, but proof it prevents heart attacks won't arrive until 2029. Here's what's confirmed now.
CholesterolSupplements to Lower Cholesterol: What Actually Works
Real doses for psyllium, plant sterols, omega 3, and niacin, plus the red yeast rice safety risks most cholesterol supplement guides leave out entirely.
CholesterolCholesterol Medication: How Statins and Newer Drugs Compare
Statins are still first line for high cholesterol, but 2026 added bempedoic acid, an siRNA shot, and the first oral PCSK9 pill. Here's how each compares.
CholesterolFoods to Avoid With High Cholesterol: The Egg Myth
Saturated fat, trans fat, and processed food raise LDL cholesterol — eggs are more nuanced than most lists admit. Here's what the evidence actually shows.
CholesterolCholesterol Diet: Foods That Actually Lower Your Numbers
The exact gram amounts of oats, psyllium, plant sterols, soy, nuts, and fish that research links to lower LDL cholesterol — not just which foods to eat.
CholesterolWhat Causes High Cholesterol, From Diet to Genetics
Diet is only part of it. See every real cause of high cholesterol — genetics, weight, smoking, thyroid, medications — each with its source.
CholesterolHow to Lower Cholesterol: What Actually Moves the Number
Diet, weight, exercise, and quitting smoking all lower cholesterol — with real timeframes: roughly 10% from diet alone in 8 to 12 weeks.
CholesterolNormal Cholesterol Levels by Age: The Full Chart
Total, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride ranges in mg/dL and mmol/L, by age and sex, plus how to calculate your own total cholesterol with a worked example.
CholesterolCholesterol Test: How to Read Your Lipid Panel Results
A 2026 guideline update means most cholesterol tests no longer require fasting. Here's how to read your lipid panel results, line by line.
CholesterolLDL vs HDL Cholesterol: What 'Good' and 'Bad' Actually Mean
See LDL and HDL cholesterol compared side by side: ranges in mg/dL and mmol/L, what raises and lowers each, and why "good vs bad" isn't the whole story.
CholesterolHDL Cholesterol: Normal Ranges and Why 'Good' Has Limits
HDL is "good" cholesterol, but very high levels aren't always protective, and raising it with medication hasn't lowered heart attack risk in major trials.
About Cholesterol
Readers in this subcategory learn to interpret their own lipid results, separate well-supported interventions from marketing claims, and understand where medication fits alongside diet and lifestyle. Start with the linked explainers below, then continue to the diet and treatment guides. These articles are educational and not a substitute for personal medical advice.
This cholesterol section explains what a lipid panel reports and why the numbers matter, starting with the difference between LDL and HDL and what counts as a normal range at different ages. Guides cover the causes of high cholesterol, from diet and body weight to genetics and thyroid function, so you can tell which factors are actually within your control.