Here's how I lowered my cholesterol and also lost 16 pounds this year. Last Christmas my wife gave me a year membership to LA Fitness. I have been going 5 to 6 days a week since. One of the trainers talked about being a vegetarian and recommended the book "The China Study". That got the ball rolling and then I read several books mentioned in it on reversing heart disease. As I have had 2 heart surgeries in the last 4 years and was starting to have chest pain associated with angina I became a vegetarian and started eating as low fat as I could. Got 3 cook books on fat free cooking. Have tried to keep my fat intake under 10 gms per day. Not always possible but I came close most of the time. At almost 70, I'm even starting to show the beginnings of a 6 pack abs and my heart Dr gave me permission this week to start training for a 5K run.
I highly recommend the book "The China Study" for everyone. It has changed my life.