Cholesterol drops over time, not suddenly after a few days of healthier living. There is no set period in which cholesterol is guaranteed to drop.

The body needs some cholesterol to function normally. However, too much cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

People concerned about their cholesterol may wonder how to reduce it quickly. However, cholesterol reduction takes time, and most research looks at cholesterol changes over many months.

People hoping to reduce their cholesterol naturally can do so steadily with a number of healthy lifestyle changes.

This article examines cholesterol, how it affects health, how long it takes to reduce cholesterol, normal and high cholesterol levels, and the best ways to lower cholesterol.

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The liver producesTrusted Source cholesterol naturally. It is a fatty substance that helps the body make hormones and digest fatty foods.

There is also cholesterol in animal-based foods, such as eggs and meat. The body does not need cholesterol from food, and it can naturally manufacture the cholesterol it needs.

Cholesterol tests measure two types of cholesterol:

  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This type of cholesterol is what many people consider “bad”. High levels of LDL can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, clogged arteries, and other heart health issues.
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL): This “good” cholesterol can help remove cholesterol and carry it back to the liver. Higher levels of HDL may lower a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

Total cholesterol is a measure of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.

If a person has low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol, their risk of heart disease is higher.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs usually produce a change in LDL within 4 weeks. Lifestyle changes can also change cholesterol levels within weeks, although it may take longer.

Some doctors recommend adding a cholesterol-lowering drug if a person is unable to lower their LDL cholesterol with lifestyle changes alone.

For most people, healthy cholesterol levels are as follows:

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source recommend using statins to lower cholesterol in people with cholesterol levels above these levels.

However, they also recommendTrusted Source doctors consider a person’s cholesterol levels and overall risk of cardiovascular disease before prescribing a cholesterol-lowering medication.

Other recommendations include:

  • People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should receive high intensity, maximally tolerated statin therapy to lower LDL by at least 50%.
  • People with severe primary hypercholesterolemia (LDL greater than OR equal to 190 mg/dL) should receive high-intensity statin therapy.

There are a number of lifestyle measures a person can incorporate into their daily routines to gradually and consistently lower their LDL levels over time.They include:

Eat a balanced diet

Many different foods contain cholesterol, and some foods such as eggs are high in cholesterol.

However, studies have found that the cholesterol a person gets from food does not substantially increase blood cholesterol.

Instead, what matters is eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients.

A person can try the following:

  • Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
  • Avoid trans fats, and limit foods high in saturated fat.
  • Limit foods with added sugars.
  • Eat a lower sodium diet. Many processed foods contain high levels of sodium, even if they do not taste salty.
  • Eat high fiber foods such as oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, and beans.

Because cholesterol intake does not directly correlate with cholesterol levels in most people, people do not necessarily need to avoid foods that contain cholesterol. Instead, most people should focus on eating a balanced diet that is low in trans fats and saturated fats.

For some people, however, cholesterol intake does bear an important relation to serum levels, and they should monitor their cholesterol intake from food accordingly.

Maintain a moderate weight

Maintaining or achieving a moderate weight can help lower cholesterol, while also reducing other heart disease risks.

A person should focus on achieving and maintaining a moderate weight with a combination of healthy eating and lots of physical activity, as both of these can also lower cholesterol.

Become more active

Physical activity exercises the heart, reducing the risk of heart disease. It can also help the body remove cholesterol from the blood, steadily lowering bad cholesterol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 150 minutesTrusted Source of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, per week.

People who are not active can start slowly. Even a slight increase in physical activity can improve health and may make it easier to work up to more exercise.

Make lifestyle changes

Quitting or cutting back on habits such as smoking and excessive drinking can help lower cholesterolTrusted Source, while improving overall health.

Ask about cholesterol medication

Cholesterol medications such as statins may be the fastest way to lower cholesterol for some people – usually within 4 weeks. These allow a person to reduce their heart disease risk while cultivating a healthy lifestyle. During this period, a person can focus on lowering cholesterol over time with lifestyle and dietary changes.

If LDL cholesterol does not drop enough with diet and lifestyle changes and statins, a person might need additional medications.

Lowering LDL cholesterol can reduce a person’s risk of heart disease However, there is no “quick fix”, and cholesterol usually lowers gradually as people adopt certain lifestyle habits.

Heart-healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating healthily and being physically active, can lower cholesterol and may also improve a person’s overall health.

Cholesterol-lowering medications can help when lifestyle measures alone are insufficient.