While animal research seems to confirm that glucosamine can increase cholesterol, researchers haven't found this effect in people.

But torcetrapib worked primarily by increasing HDL, or good cholesterol.

(Statins also increase good cholesterol, but only by about 5 percent.)

However, Niaspan can increase good cholesterol by only about 14 percent for men and 20 percent for women and often causes hot-flashes.

Taking vitamin C along with these other vitamins might decrease the effectiveness of niacin for increasing good cholesterol.

If the low-cholesterol diet does not work to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medications.

Coconut oil is high in saturated fat and can increase cholesterol.

A diet with less than 25% of its calories from fat can increase triglycerides and decrease HDL (good) cholesterol.

Besides causing severe weight gain, it increases blood sugar and cholesterol in many people who take it, all risk factors for heart disease.

Walnuts These nuts are rich in omega-3s, which help reduce inflam-mation and increase good cholesterol.