Disclosed are methods for lowering cholesterol and treating heart disease in an animal employing prenylchalcones or prenylflavonones. Such prenylchalcones or prenylflavonones may be derived from hops (humulus Lupulus L.), or produced synthetically. Representative prenylchalcones or prenylflavonones are: xanthohumol, xanthogalenol, desmethylxanthohumol (2',4',6',4-tetrahydrooxy-3-C-prenylchalcone), 2',4',6',4-tetrahydrooxy-3'-C-geranylchalcone, dehydrocycloxanthohumol, dehydrocycloxanthohumol hydrate, 5'-prenylxanthohumol, tetrahydroxanthohumol, 4'-O-5'-C-diprenylxanthohumol, chalconaringenin, isoxanthohumol, 6-prenylnaringenin, 8-prenylnaringenin, 6,8-diprenylnaringenin, 4',6'-dimethoxy-2',4-dihydroxychalcone, 4'-O-methylxanthohumol, 6-geranylnaringenin, 8-geranylnaringenin. The preferred prenylchalcone is xanthohumol