Aim to include fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your daily diet.  Avoid saturated and trans fats that are often found in red meat and full-fat dairy like whole milk, butter, and cheese as well as limiting fried and processed foods.

Exercise can help increase HDL levels. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each day.  Include both aerobic exercise like cycling, brisk walking, or jogging and resistance exercises like weights, resistance bands or body weights such as push-ups and squats.

Smoking and vaping lowers HDL or “good” cholesterol. It can also make high blood pressure and diabetes harder to manage.

Medications called “statins” work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol.  Though statins are often used to treat high cholesterol there are several other medications that can treat high cholesterol. It is important to discuss the options with your health care provider at your routine visits for health checks.