It depends on your diet and heredity, but high cholesterol, in and of itself, doesn't mean anything. At best the ratios matter more, and triglycerides are a good indicator of how much sugar (in any form) you consume.
My cholesterol is quite high. My ratios are excellent and ideal. My triglycerides are extremely low, HDL is inordinately high, and all other markers of health (waist circumference, inflammation, blood pressure, hair and nails, dental health, etc) are excellent. My A1C is in the 4.6-4.7 range. I achieved and maintain these values on a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet comprised of whole foods (think salads, eggs, cold water fish, nuts, some heavy cream and cheese, the occasional berries, and a vice for coffee and a diet coke occasionally. Oh, and chocolate and blueberries in small quantities
).
Cholesterol is highly misunderstood, at best, and criminally misrepresented by the pharmaceutical industry and associated professional boards, at worst. Dr. Eades had two really good blogs on this topic just the other day, which may help give you some perspective.
My advice is to observe the details of your cholesterol and diet, not the overall number, and go from there. If your ratios stink, trigs are sky high, LDL is wonky, or you have other health complaints, those may need to be managed. But cholesterol in isolation means approximately nothing
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/l...pothesis/5257/
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/s...-maybe-anyone/