Lifestyle Modifications to Raise HDL-C Levels • Smoking Cessation − HDL-C levels are 7-20% lower in smokers, but return to normal 1-2 months after smoking cessation • Whole Food Plant Based Diet • Weight Reduction − For every 3 kg (7 lb) of weight loss, HDL-C levels increase about 1 mg/dL (~2-4% increase) • Exercise − Aerobic exercise (40 min, 3-4 times weekly) increases HDL-C by about 2.5 mg/dL (~5-10% increase) Rössner S et al. Atherosclerosis. 1987;64:125-130. Wood PD et al. N Engl J Med. 1988;319:1173-1179. Ornish D et al. JAMA. 1998;280:2001-2007. Cullen P et al. Eur Heart J. 1998;19:1632-1641. Kokkinos PF et al. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:415-420. Kodama S et al. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:999-1008.