How can I lower my raised cholesterol levels?

Hi doctor,

I recently had a full blood count done and would like a second opinion on the results. It was my cholesterol which surprised me. I have never suffered from high cholesterol but over the past three years, it has kept up and recent tests showed:

1. Serum cholesterol -270.27 mg/dL
2. HDL - 48.26 mg/dL.
3. LDL - 195.75 mg/dL.
4. Triglycerides 132.74 mg/dL.

This surprised me as my cholesterol two years ago was 193.05 mg/dL and I gave up all meat four years ago.

I am 45 years old, eat healthy, and exercise 3 to 4 times a week. I find it weird that my cholesterol has gone up when I have given up meat though there does seem to be a family trait in my mother's side for high cholesterol. I have also been reading a lot recently that views on cholesterol are changing and studies show that it is not directly linked now to saturated fats and heart disease. The other test I wanted to briefly discuss was my liver results. My doctor said they were all fine. I have looked at them and they all do seem to be fine except I noticed my Bilburin level was up a bit to 1.34 mg/dL which sits just outside of the norm. My doctor mentioned nothing about this. Is it a concern?

Hi doctor,

Thank you so much.