Women entering menopause have something else to worry about: increasing cholesterol levels, warns Denise Janosik, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

“Studies have shown that as women age, bad cholesterol levels rise,” she says. “A preventive approach is the best approach, and every woman over 50 should speak with their general practitioner or gynecologist to see whether it makes sense or not to meet with a cardiologist. Small changes in diet can take care of the problem in many cases.”

Janosik heads up St. Louis-based LIVEWell, a 12-week cardiovascular risk reduction program designed to help people make lifestyle changes – rather than embark on another diet.

Here are some diet changes that help lower cholesterol:

- Maintain a diet with a fat content between 10 percent and 20 percent.

- Minimize saturated and trans fats and high cholesterol foods.

- Consume adequate soluble fiber. Good sources include oat bran, dried beans, carrots, apples and citrus fruits.

Soy protein also helps lower total cholesterol, low-density lipid “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, and slightly raises high-density lipid “good” cholesterol.

New studies show that soy protein should be part of a comprehensive dietary intervention for the prevention and treatment of high blood cholesterol levels.

Replacing foods high in saturated fat, trans-saturated fat and cholesterol with soy foods, such as tofu or soy milk, should be beneficial to cardiovascular health.