Dietary sources to raise HDL cholesterol level

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi doctors im 52 years old male smoker i did blood test and the results obtained showed normal level of LDL and cholesterol and VLDL but low level of HDL so how i can increase HDL level?

Dear Suroor:With HDL cholesterol levels, higher levels are better and a level >60mg/dL provides some protection against heart disease. To improve your level of HDL (good) cholesterol I would advise weight management, increasing daily physical activity and smoking cessation. Substitution of monounsaturated for saturated fatty acids can raise HDL-cholesterol. In addition, medications that lower HDL-cholesterol (beta blockers, benzodiazepines, and androgens) should be discontinued, if possible. Fish oil consumption lowers serum triglyceride concentrations by 25 to 30 % and fish oil supplementation also modestly raises HDL-C concentrations. Rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids come from fatty fish, especially salmon, and plant sources such as flaxseed and flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and nuts. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been studied in populations with high intakes of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as the Eskimos) and a high intake of these has been associated with low rates of heart disease