Going back to basic with questions!
Do we need to reduce cholesterol?
Why?
How do we achieve this?
Is there enough data to support medication?
Type of medication?
Can food intake control the first step to take?
Where do we go for food intake advice?
Keeping this very simple!!
Sadly the drug industry working with the medical profession have sold us on the simplistic idea that heart disease is caused by cholesterol and that if we lower it to levels that have been shown to not extend lifespan then you will be safe from HD and heart attacks. Meanwhile the real cause and contributor to HD and heart attacks go's unaddressed. The rates of cancer and heart disease in the western world would be slashed beyond the wildest dreams of any drug company if we poured money and effort equal to the drug push, into how we live, how and what we eat and how we interact with each other.
Sadly, we as a worldwide community were sold a pup in 1977.
That pup has now grown to be an out of control pit bull whose behaviour is being excused and condoned by the medical, pharmaceutical and food industries, while the bewildered public are wandering round like savaged postmen.
The question is...who do we believe? As soon as my cholesterol is down, I'm off the statins. For now, I'm doing as the doctor tells me...not because she may be right or wrong...simply because I don't know who to believe. We've been told for so long that high cholesterol causes heart disease, it's difficult to switch off that belief. All the different theories are raising a lot of questions and rightly so. Until then...I'm taking the statins to get my cholesterol down. 
Do we need to reduce cholesterol?
-If its too high and you have a history of heart disease in your family then yes
Why?
-because if you dont your arteries will clog up and you will have an heart episode
How do we achieve this?
-for me regular exercise, healthy diet and statins
Is there enough data to support medication?
-is there enough data not to support it? do you want to take the chance? I have a guinea pig with my mum. She is not far off being the oldest person to ever live in her family going back as far as we can. She has been on statins for 23 years. Any time she lives past 63 will be a bonus. Time will tell
Type of medication?
Statins
Can food intake control the first step to take?
-for normal high cholesterol absolutely. For FH its the first step but experience tells me it will have about an 5-10% impact. Not enough generally
Where do we go for food intake advice?
-Heart UK, BHF, browse the net, common sense, simple rules like eat lots of fruit and veg, dont eat fats which are solid at room temperature, avoid sugar, ask on here
My Mum's 84 years old, she had a heart attack at 57 and 15 years ago she went into hospital for a routine angiogram and found out that her arteries were 80% blocked. Both her sisters died of heart attacks. She had a triple bypass within a month and has been fine ever since. There's no history of heart disease on my fathers side of the family and they are all living into their 90's. I hope I have his genes. lol. When I was told my cholesterol was 9, I thought I'd better get it down asap. I have no weight problem, I'm as thin as a pin. I'm looking forward to my next test to see how well I've done.
Thank you for this information.
Are you on a life style change or on medication to bring cholesterol down?
I am on a life style change, food intake control and regular exercise to keep blood test numbers under control. Over the last four years I have maintained the numbers.
My dad lived to the age of 90 but my mother passed away when I was small therefore no data available.
It is imperative you do regular blood checks.
I'm on statins, one a day 40mg plus a diet change. I've had no biscuits, chocolate, cake, butter etc: for 6 weeks now. My biggest downfall was butter. My baked potatoes used to swim in it 
I used butter for cooking and spread it really thick on sandwiches, toast, cream crackers. I absolutely LOVE lots of butter. I've cut that out except for a light spreading of benecol on my toast in the morning and the same on a sandwich for my tea...about two teaspoons a day.
I eat a handful of walnuts every day, a bowl of porridge, made with water. I do love a sprinkling of sugar on my porridge or I couldn't eat it. I have a banana, orange and a pear every day.
If my numbers drop quite significantly I would put it down to the lack of butter more than anything. I'm certainly not staying on the statins for too long.
In my food intake, I take cheese, butter, coconut oil on brown toast. Coconut oil in UK is in a spreadable form and it take like a bounty with out chocolate!
I do take porridge with milk for breakfast was well.
Lunch, eggs, onion, tomatoes cooked in butter, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. For dinner what even is cooked at home, fresh chicken, fish or lamb curry with basmati rice.
Please Google the benefits of butter and coconut oil.
Under pressure from GP I was on stating for three months and the total cholesterol came down to 2.8. due to side effect I gave up, now I have blood test every six months and the numbers are under control according to my GP.
I love cheese and butter, my doctor has told me to stay off them. 
Like I said....who do you believe. We all want what's best for ourselves but if we don't have the right information, we can't help ourselves can we.
I've got coconut oil...I haven't opened it yet.
NHS Doctor, NHS food plate information is very old, there are a lot of new information available on food. There are a lot of u tube video clips that offer new information on food.
Good luck.
Thank you Bala...I'll see what I can find on youtube
Just had my second cholesterol test. I've gone from 9.8 down to 5.7 in three months. I'm a happy camper. I'm back for another test in 3 months time.
Good news. Are you able to write about the change in food intake or any medication that helped you to bring the number down?
My doctor put me on Atorvastatin 40mg. I took them for six weeks and decided to stop taking them. So for the next 6 weeks I just relied on my change of diet which was to eliminate the dreadful amount of butter I usually have. I think that was the key as I ate SO MUCH butter. Absolutely no cake, chocolate, biscuits, cheese. Instead I nibbled on walnuts, dates and fruit...mainly oranges and bananas. I was flipping STARving...lol. I ate porridge for my breakfast, salmon salads and chicken and veg meals. I think, for me, it was the elimination of butter, cakes, choc, and biscuits that did it, as I normally eat so much of it.
well done on the dietary changes although 40mg is a pretty high dosage as thats what I am on and I will need to take statins for the rest of my life...
To be honest Bryan, I've been breaking my statin pill in half every night....so I've been taking half the dose. I'm not happy about being on them. So we'll see what happens.
Statin as primary medication, this is to lower cholesterol, in doing so prevent any heart problem so the specialist says.
Statin as secondary medication, after any heart problem, this to help with blood flow after heart procedure, so the specialist says.
Life style change, food intake control and regular exercise can help with any heart related problems and blood glucose numbers.
My journey so far no medication for both cholesterol and blood glucose, only time will tell.
Thank you for your reply.
You asked 'Why do we need cholesterol' We need it to repair our blood vessel walls, too much may point to other factors which are damaging your blood vessels, too little may point to a deficiency in you diet. Please take this into account.
This is from the web:
What Is Cholesterol, and Why Do You Need It?
That's right, you do need cholesterol. This soft, waxy substance is found not only in your bloodstream but also in every cell in your body, where it helps to produce cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help you digest fat.
Cholesterol also helps in the formation of your memories and is vital for neurological function. Your liver makes about three-quarters or more of your body's cholesterol, and according to conventional medicine, there are two types:
1.High-density lipoprotein or HDL: This is the "good" cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol away from your arteries and remove any excess from arterial plaque, which may help to prevent heart disease.
2.Low-density lipoprotein or LDL: This "bad" cholesterol circulates in your blood and, according to conventional thinking, may build up in your arteries, forming plaque that makes your arteries narrow and less flexible (a condition called atherosclerosis). If a clot forms in one of these narrowed arteries leading to your heart or brain, a heart attack or stroke may result.
Also making up your total cholesterol count are:
•Triglycerides: Elevated levels of this dangerous fat have been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Triglyceride levels are known to rise from eating too many grains and sugars, being physically inactive, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol excessively, and being overweight or obese.
•Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a): Lp(a) is a substance that is made up of an LDL "bad cholesterol" part plus a protein (apoprotein a). Elevated Lp(a) levels are a very strong risk factor for heart disease. This has been well established, yet very few physicians check for it in their patients. (Lp(a) also was not assessed in the featured study.)
I hate using the statins, but last October I was well over 7. Now I am back to4.1 so has to be worth it . I have at least 3 Avacados a week, think this helps. Downside is the loosing strength in my legs.
I take 4 Avocado per week, this is because I buy two packs of 2 for £3.00.
I also eat nuts, count 5 at a time to make sure I do not over eat.
Other food onions, tomatoes, green leaf vegetables, balsamic vinegar, coconut oil, butter and olive oil.
for anyone taking statins and wondering who to believe I would recommend watching this you tube clip 'This doctor hates statins' I personally believe what she says makes a lot more sense than any of the garbage about giving up butter, if it is from grass fed cows (organic) then it should be ok. Same goes for our vegetables and fruit. We were once told an apple a day keeps the Doctor away - that was until they sprayed them all with pesticides so now they are depleted of any goodness and are toxic!!
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