1. Poor diet. High cholesterol sufferers usually eat the same kind of thing, and a lot of it. They usually eat a lot of animal products such as cheese, eggs, whole milk, cream, and meat, in great quantities. They also eat a lot of sugar and processed foods, such as cookies and crackers. They eat a lot of fried, fatty foods.
2. Obesity. Eating this way can, of course, lead to a person getting very overweight. Studies have shown that overweight people generally suffer from a high level of cholesterol. But it is possible, remember, to eat a lot of the foods listed above and not get overweight. Whether a person gets overweight has a lot to do with their metabolism, build, and so forth. It's important, therefore, to remember that you may be slender and still be in danger of the results of high cholesterol levels.
3. Inheritance. It's possible to inherit high cholesterol levels from a parent or grandparent. You could be eating the right things and exercising, and still suffer.
4. Lack of exercise. When we exercise, we burn away extra fats and sugars. Not exercising allows these things to accumulate and sit, and built up in the body.

The results of high cholesterol are not pretty. High cholesterol means that fatty deposits are building up in your arteries. Fatty deposits keep the blood from flowing through smoothly. When the blood doesn't flow smoothly and quickly, it doesn't get to your heart and brain as well. This leads to depression, lack of sleep, lack of focus, heart pain, and, eventually, even heart attack and stroke and death.

The proven ways to counter high cholesterol are healthy diet and exercise. Instead of fatty, processed, animal foods, people opt for natural foods such as vegetables and grains and fruits and nuts and seeds and beans. These things have the opposite effect of the fried, fatty foods: they clear out the arteries and keep the blood pumping healthy, red, and strong. You'll have more energy. You'll sleep better. You'll be able to concentrate a whole lot more and have better moods.

When it comes to healthy supplements to add to your diet, some have chosen garlic as one of the best supplements possible. Some studies have shown that garlic indeed does lower cholesterol. In these studies two groups of people were tested. Both groups suffered from high cholesterol. One group took a garlic supplement as a part of their routine of diet and exercise, and one group took a placebo, that is, a pill that looked and tasted like a garlic pill but really wasn't (there was no garlic in it at all). Testing showed that the group that took the real garlic pill did have slightly better results than the group that took the fake garlic pill.

Other studies, however, when doing the same thing, have showed that neither group had an advantage over the other. It has not been proven conclusively whether or not garlic helps high cholesterol sufferers. One of the best ways to see if it works is (with your doctor's assistance and encouragement) to try it out for yourself. Garlic is a natural product, and it can't harm you to try. A healthy diet improved by supplements and exercise is a sure way to lower your cholesterol levels and live longer and better.