If you have high cholesterol, you're not alone. Seventy-one million people in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and only one-third of those with high cholesterol have it under control.

Your blood naturally contains two types of cholesterol, a good kind called HDL and a potentially harmful type called LDL. Cholesterol is needed for certain bodily functions, but it causes problems if your levels get too high.

DHEA sulfate, formally known as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, is a male sex hormone produced in the adrenal glands of both men and women. Blood levels of the hormone are sometimes measured to gauge adrenal function and health.

The sugar in regular soda might elevate your triglycerides, one of three types of lipids that comprise your cholesterol levels. The sugar calories in regular soda also could lead to weight gain, which can affect your cholesterol levels.

Magnesium is both a mineral and an electrolyte. It carries an electrical charge as it transports other electrolytes, potassium and calcium, through your cell membranes. The nutrient serves a wide range of purposes in your body, including regulation of your blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate.

Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts calories it does not use right away into triglycerides, which your body later stores in your fat cells. Between meals, hormones release triglycerides to provide you with energy.

The American Heart Association reports that 35.7 million adults in the United States suffer from high cholesterol levels, defined as a total serum cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or greater.

Sulforaphane belongs to a group of phytochemicals, or disease-fighting compounds in plant foods, known as the isothiocyanates. Along with related phytochemicals, it helps to prevent against the development of cancer.

If you have high cholesterol, a plant rhizome that's commonly used as a cooking spice may help lower it. Ginger has been used as a remedy for headaches, nausea, vomiting, motion sickness and arthritis.

Low density lipoprotein, or LDL, transports cholesterol from your liver and delivers it to the tissues that need it. However, if cholesterol is unneeded, then LDL circulates throughout your bloodstream. For health-related purposes, you should maintain your LDL cholesterol in a certain range.

According to the American Heart Association, a blood cholesterol level of less than 160 milligrams per deciliter is considered low. Taking cholesterol-lowering medications occasionally leads to low cholesterol, also called hypocholesterolemia. Several disorders and conditions also cause hypocholesterolemia.

High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors for developing heart disease which is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. Fortunately your risk can be decreased by simply lowering your overall cholesterol level.