For people who are trying to lower cholesterol, the goal is to decrease low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol enough to reduce the risk of heart disease or a heart attack. This typically begins with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, and exercising more. Eating a heart-healthy diet involves eating only enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, adding cholesterol-lowering food (such as margarines that contain plant sterol), and increasing soluble fiber intake. If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, statins, bile acid sequestrants, or cholesterol absorption inhibitors may be prescribed to lower cholesterol.