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If your cholesterol tests keep showing high results, it may be time to make a change. Eating breakfast is a well-known healthy habit, but new research showed that the size of your breakfast makes a difference, too. And, believe it or not, bigger is better.

A study led by a Tel Aviv University researcher revealed that people who eat their largest meal at breakfast are more likely to lose weight and have a smaller waist circumference than people who eat a big dinner. In addition to less scale stress, big breakfast eaters also had better levels of insulin, glucose and triglycerides - the main form of fat in the body. These factors mean a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and lower cholesterol levels.

Perhaps the more surprising discovery is that those big breakfasts actually included dessert, implying that weight management is not just what you eat, but also when you eat it. The researchers noted that these findings may pave the way for future obesity treatment and lifestyle factors.

How did they do it?... Full Story

Middle-aged men with high cholesterol may be at a higher risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, according to a new study. Research found that men were far more likely to have a first heart attack than women, even if both had the same elevated levels of cholesterol.

Study... Full Story

Cholesterol tests reveal that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and heart-healthy fats, can lower the amount of low-density lipoproteins, or bad cholesterol.

A recent study from the American Heart Association tested the effects of the diet on men who are genetically predisposed to have cardiovascular problems, and were shown to have low levels of high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol. Not all of the men lost weight, but regardless of what the scale said by the end of the study, they had all decreased their bad cholesterol by 9 percent.

"The Mediterranean-style diet, or MedDiet, may be recommended for effective management of the metabolic syndrome and its related risk of cardiovascular disease," said Caroline Richard, lead author of the study.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the MedDiet focuses on plant-based foods, heart-healthy fats in moderation - such as those found in olive oil - the use of spices and herbs as a replacement for salt, and an emphasis on lean white meat. The diet also encourages drinking a small amount of red wine.