All good suggestions so far. The nonprofit I used to work for specialized in treatment of heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer, and other degenerative illness through dietary means.

If you can stomach it, the best way to lower cholesterol quickly is to eliminate any sort of animal fats. As Patti said, milk and milk products (other than skim milk and nonfat yogurt) are frequent culprits. People don't realize that one 8 oz glass of whole milk has as much fat as two slices of bacon! Cream, sour cream, ice cream, cheeses, etc are all very high in saturated fat... Beef and pork are also big contributors. Vegetable fats are culprits too... olive oil is one of the better oils, but it should be used in extreme moderation, and if you can avoid frying or heating the oil in any way, it's MUCH healthier for you.

On the flip side, things you can *add* that will help lower cholesterol: Up to 2-3 tbsp of raw flax oil (you can find it in the health store and some supermarkets now) daily will actually directly decrease cholesterol if used over several months. It also helps to dissolve arterial plaque that puts one at risk for heart disease and stroke. And it's a tasty substitute for butter on baked potatoes or can be used with vinegar as salad dressing. Green leaf juices, either freshly made, or the ones you get in the refrigerator case (Green Power or whatever it's called) helps the body emulsify and dispose of fats.

There's lots more, but that, plus the earlier suggestions, is a good start.