I don't remember the numbers, but I'm also being seen at a VA hospital. My cholesterol was high. I tried a moderate diet. 6 months later, it had hardly changed and the doc said I had 6 months to get it down or she'd put me on Simvastatin (is that the generic name for Zocor?). In any case, I tried to eliminate every single bit of cholesterol and saturated fat from my diet. I figured I'd still get some, but if I shot for none, I might be successful. 6 months later...all the bad stuff was just a wee bit HIGHER.

I'm on Zocor now. There are no side effects, but you're not supposed to drink grapefruit juice. I went back in after 6 months, and the doc told me the medicine and my diet were working fine. I don't think I told her then that I was eating whatever the hell I wanted. With me, it's not my diet - it's my genes. This probably isn't normal though.

Garlic pills or tablets help a lot, and there are medical studies that prove it. I've known people who bring Cheerios to work in little bags and munch them for snacks