The best way to prevent high blood cholesterol is to eat a healthy balanced diet low in animal fats.

Take the 5-a-day fruit and veg test

If there is a family history of cholesterol problems, a blood test is advisable, as treatment may be necessary. If the person is very overweight, weight loss will also help reduce the cholesterol level. Regular exercise can help weight loss, and is also beneficial.

Find out how many calories you can burn doing the activities you enjoy

If liquid, unsaturated fats or oils, (particularly the polyunsaturated type), replace solid fats in the diet, the amount of cholesterol decreases. Foods high in unsaturated fats include olive oil and oily fish. Current thinking is that the traditional Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on raw olive oil in many foods and low animal-fat content, is one of the best there is for cardiovascular health (the health of the heart and blood circulation).