Well apparently some carbs lower cholesterol and others raise it,so may be the Asian rice etc does contribute as I cannot see them eating brown rice.I have cut all my carbs to 20 grams a day not even that most days so I will see what my Cholesterol levels are in 4 months. One thing though. My sister has been diagnosed with high levels of cholesterol, but she loves her cakes and sweets and smokes (She still smokes silly woman) but has changed her diet to rice, couscous and sweet potato and brown bread. She went from 6.5 cholesterol to 4.4 in two months