First, for shigatoxin, cholesterol does not come ONLY from food, and sometimes diet and exercise alone aren t enough. Our bodies make cholesterol naturally, but when we add to it by eating the wrong foods in the wrong amounts, we make the situation worse. However, there ARE people who do eat right, exercise, and keep their weight at proper ranges, and still have high levels of cholesterol - due to genetics. Laziness has nothing to do with the reason some people must take these drugs and why pharmacuticals create them. In addition, there are other illnesses that can cause a body to handle or not handle cholesterol properly. We talk about weight, exercise, eating right, and especially (back to) weight. My husband has Multiple Sclerosis, and one of the problems he s had is a malfunction (if you will) of his metabolism. In addition, a lot of MS patients take medications (for various symptoms) that contain steroids, and as we know, steroids add weight. With a virtually non-existent metabolism, my husband could eat one cracker a day and not lose an ounce. He can t exercise like he used to (due to the MS arthritis in his knees), and must walk slowly. He used to run marathons, but he s doing great when he can walk a mile. He also has genetics working against him with the natural cholesterol. He takes a cholesterol lowering medication, and it has NOTHING to do with laziness. I m certain all opinions are appreciated, but one speculated opinion cannot be placed on every person. If you re genetically suseptible to high cholesterol, it s much more important to keep tabs on what you eat; but even the very best efforts to keep it down may not be enough - as in my case. I have lost almost 55 lbs, eat better than I have in years, and exercise as much as I can. However, my levels are still a bit high, so I take Vytorin to get it down where it should be. However, if you already have normal levels and want to maintain it, definitely watch what you eat, and not only WHAT, but HOW MUCH. Proper diet is very important, and if you can pay special attention to eating foods that increase the HDL, it will help lower the LDL. We ve had 3 different heart doctors tell us that a low fat, low carb diet is essential. However, we ve noticed that if something is low fat, it s high carb... and vice versa. When we asked about that, the doctors said that if you can t have both, then aim for low fat, and stay as low on carbs as you can. We were also told with regard to carbs, that if the natural food was grown in the ground, the carbs are okay (i.e. potatoes); otherwise, steer clear. In addition, breads and pastas are bad because the main ingredient(s) have been enriched and/or bleached - meaning all of the good things - vitamins, minerals - have been stripped from them, leaving just the bad things. Saturated and Trans fats are the BAD fats. Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated are the GOOD fats, with Poly being the best. Here is a site you can visit that has all of this information, and also lists foods with each of these fats in them: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcArticles.nsf/pages/Fats_and_oils?OpenDocument Exercise is important, yes, especially for keeping your cardiovascular system healthy and your weight down. If you can take pills but don t want a prescription, try using Omega 3 Fatty Acids (fish oil). There are also products on the market that can help some, such as Garlique, and you can add garlic to your diet as well. My son takes a multi-vitamin that contains a cholesterol aid , so you might check into those. If you re unsure about which ones might be best, ask the pharmacist at whatever store you choose to purchase the product(s) from. The best way to keep cholesterol down is to begin taking care of it before it ever goes up. Healthy diet, the right amounts, exercise, proper weight are all key. Then adding to that a good vitamin, the Omega 3, and especially eating foods that are low in Sat and Trans fat, higher in Poly and Mono fats, is a great way to do it. And if you still develop high cholesterol due to family history or other health issues, then don t be afraid to take a prescription if it s necessary. You and your doctor can determine the best course of treatment for YOU. Best wishes.