What is the best thing to do to lower or normalize the cholesterol level?

Study up on the Omega 3 vs Omega 6 ratio. Avoid Omega 6 as much as possible and increase the consumption of foods containing Omega 3, like "wild caught" Salmon. If you can't eat fish 2 or 3 times a week, take an Omega 3 DHA supplement 3 times a day. (Store your Omega 3 supplements in the refrigerator)

Eating foods such as real cheese and drinking Organic (grass-fed) Whole Milk will also raise your "good" HDL levels, improving your overall lipid profile. Eating full-fat Organic Yogurt, (with live cultures), has also shown to be beneficial in regards to your overall lipid profile, and raising HDL levels. Use real organic (grass-fed) Butter, not margarine. In fact, avoid trans-fat as much as possible. Avoid processed foods that contain "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils in the ingredient list. Avoid highly refined polyunsaturated vegetable or seed oils in cooking. They are rancid, deodorized oils that turn into toxic trans-fats when heated.

Avoid foods that use or contain powdered milk, powdered eggs, powdered cheese, powdered butter (or oil), and artificial dairy creamers.

Avoid eating a high carbohydrate diet with lots of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, soft drinks, cakes, pastries, etc. They increase the "bad" small, dense VLDL and triglycerides. It's important to note that all carbohydrates that are made of sugar, or turn to sugar in your body, will raise your triglycerides. But eating fish or taking a regular molecularly distilled Omega-3 DHA supplement will reduce them.

Remember to eat foods rich in both Vitamin K-2 and magnesium.

Cook with either Virgin Coconut Oil (not hydrogenated, or refined), or "Cold Pressed" Pure 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (Be sure to store your Olive Oil in a dark cool area, like the pantry, to keep it from becoming rancid)

When you eat salads, or vegetables, it is important to consume them with some type of oil in order to absorb the vitamins & nutrients. Pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Organic (grass-fed) Butter is ideal for this.

Take at least 1000 IU of Vitamin D3 each day, (preferably one with "olive oil", not soy).

In a Framington, Massachusetts study, Dr. William Castelli noted:

"...the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower peoples serum cholesterol... we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active."

The only problem with this though, is the fact they started feeding our meat products with grain and little to no grass after the 1940's. This lowered the Omega 3 fatty acids in saturated fat from our meat products, thus contributing to the Omega 3 vs Omega 6 imbalance in our diets. Omega 6 is very pro-inflammatory and is the predominate fatty acid in "grain-fed" meat products. This is why it is important to eat meat products that are "grass-fed"...OR supplement your diet with more natural Omega 3 whole foods, or supplements, to create a balance in your body.

Keep in mind that "low total cholesterol" has been linked to a multitude of diseases. Low total cholesterol actually makes an excellent "marker" for cancer. The 200 mg/dL cut-off for total cholesterol as the best level was chosen so they could put the majority of the population on statins. It was a number chosen more for money, than health. Actually the healthiest total cholesterol level should fall somewhere between 220 mg/dL and 240 mg/dL. Centenarians have also been studied. They generally have higher total cholesterol levels than those who don't live as long. They also have a healthier Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acid ratio in their diets. The "Get With The Guidelines" (GWTG) study, (see last link below), even showed that lower LDL cholesterol, (the "bad cholesterol"), was strongly linked to an increase in coronary artery disease. Those with a "LOWER" LDL cholesterol level, between 80 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL, appear to be most at risk for coronary artery disease when you review the results of this study.

With that said, beer, red wine and dark chocolate appear to be healthy in moderation... ;)

You can try red yeast rice. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol like the statins.

Diet and exercise is also very effective to lower cholesterol.