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Show references Tangney CC, et al. Lipid management with diet or dietary supplements. Accessed March 6, Your guide to lowering your cholesterol with therapeutic lifestyle changes. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Accessed March 8, Grundy SM, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Prevention and treatment of high cholesterol hyperlipidemia.

American Heart Association. Feather A, et al. Lipid and metabolic disorders. Elsevier; Pacheo LS, et al. Avocado consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease in US adults. Journal of the American Heart Association.

Eating an avocado once a week may lower heart disease risk. Amirani E, et al. Effects of whey protein on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome and related conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Lipids in Health and Disease. doi: Hyperlipidemia adult. Mayo Clinic; Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture.

Final determination regarding regarding partially hydrogenated oils removing trans fat. Food and Drug Administration.

Mozaffarian D, et al. Dietary fat. Accessed March 15, Mahmassani HA, et al. Avocado consumption and risk factors for heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Products and Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition Nutritional Supplements at Mayo Clinic Store Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition. See also Arcus senilis: A sign of high cholesterol? Birth control pill FAQ Cholesterol level: Can it be too low?

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They are absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream and block some cholesterol from being absorbed, lowering the cholesterol in your blood. So, food companies have developed foods with plant sterols or stanols added to them, such as mini yogurt drinks, fat spreads, milk and yogurts.

These fortified foods lower your cholesterol gradually, over a few weeks, and how much depends on the amount you eat. Some experts believe they are the most effective single food for lowering cholesterol.

Sterols and stanols have been thoroughly researched, so they can be added to foods and are safe to eat. Three servings of: OR. To get the most from these foods, eat some every day and eat them with a meal rather than on their own.

They can be branded, such as the Flora ProActiv and Benecol ranges, as well as supermarket own products. Download this 21 day challenge using plant sterols. Donate now. Oats and barley are grains which are rich in a type of fibre called beta glucan.

Eating 3g of beta-glucan a day as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle can help to lower cholesterol. When you eat beta glucan, it forms a gel which binds to cholesterol-rich bile acids in the intestines.

This helps limit the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from the gut into your blood. Your liver then has to take more cholesterol out of your blood to make more bile, which lowers your blood cholesterol.

Many products now contain oats, which makes it easier to get your two to four servings. Foods which have a claim on the label saying they lower cholesterol will contain 1g or more of beta glucan.

Discover more about the versatilty of oats. Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fats and are lower in saturated fats , a mix which can help to keep your cholesterol in check. They contain fibre which can help block some cholesterol being absorbed into the blood stream from the gut, as well as protein, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, natural plant sterols and other plant nutrients which help keep your body healthy.

All nuts count. Choose a variety and eat them instead of your normal snack or as part of a meal. Where possible, go for the kind with their skins still intact as they contain more nutrients.

Good options are:. Soya beans and the foods that are made from them are perfect for a heart-healthy diet. Soya products are a good option for replacing foods which are high in saturated fat such as meat, full fat cream and dairy products, and snacks such as crisps. The Ulitmate Cholesterol Lowering Plan© is your personalised 3-step plan based on foods you choose.

By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Continue Find out more. Download our FREE e-guide including delicious recipes! A recipe for better heart health A heart-healthy eating plan can help you manage your blood cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

The simple cooking tips below will help you prepare tasty, heart-healthy meals that could help improve your cholesterol levels by reducing excess saturated fat and trans fat.

You can also look out for the Heart-Check mark on products at your grocery store. Reduce saturated fat in meat and poultry The American Heart Association recommends a diet that emphasizes fish and poultry and limits red meat.

Here are some ways to reduce the saturated fat in meat: Select lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat. Lean beef cuts include the round, chuck, sirloin or loin. Lean pork cuts include the tenderloin or loin chop.

Lean lamb cuts come from the leg, arm and loin. Trim all visible fat from meat before cooking. Broil rather than pan-fry meats such as hamburger, lamb chops, pork chops and steak.

Use a rack to drain off fat when broiling, roasting or baking. Instead of basting with drippings, keep meat moist with wine, fruit juices or a heart-healthy oil-based marinade. Cook a day ahead of time. Stews, boiled meat, soup stock or other dishes in which fat cooks into the liquid can be refrigerated.

Later, remove the hardened fat from the top. When a recipe calls for browning the meat first, try browning it under the broiler instead of in a pan. Eat chicken and turkey rather than duck and goose, which are usually higher in fat.

Choose white meat most often when eating poultry. Remove the skin from chicken or turkey before cooking. If your poultry dries out too much, first try basting with wine, fruit juices or a heart-healthy oil-based marinade.

Or leave the skin on for cooking and then remove it before eating. Limit processed meats such as sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs.

Such foods are often high in sodium, too. Read labels carefully and eat processed meats only occasionally. Eat less meat Try meatless meals featuring vegetables or beans. Cook fresh vegetables the heart-healthy way Try cooking vegetables in a tiny bit of vegetable oil and add a little water during cooking, if needed.

Use liquid vegetable oils in place of solid fats Liquid vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower, soybean and olive oil can often be used instead of solid fats, such as butter, lard or shortening.

Aim to eat two portions of fish per week, at least one of which should be oily. A portion is g, but you could have two or three smaller portions throughout the week.

Tinned, frozen or fresh all count e. salmon, sardines, pilchards, trout, herring and mackerel. Avoid coconut and palm oil as, unlike other vegetable oils, they are high in saturated fat.

Take a look at our delicious fish recipes. Our Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan© is based on these six cholesterol-busting foods. Visit the UCLP. Fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

They contain vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals which help you to stay healthy, and most contain little or no fat and are low in calories, so they can help you to stay a healthy weight. And, if you are eating more fruit and veg, chances are you're eating less of the other more energy-packed foods.

Fruit and vegetables are also high in fibre, and some types of fibre can help to lower your cholesterol. It blocks some cholesterol from being absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream. Pulses such as beans, peas and lentils are particularly high in this kind of fibre.

Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, tinned, frozen or dried. They all count. If you choose tinned, choose options in juice or water, without added sugar or salt. Potatoes, yams, cassava and plantains are exceptions.

Unsweetened fruit juice and smoothies count too, but only one portion. Sterols and stanols are plant ch emicals which are a similar size and shape to cholesterol.

They are absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream and block some cholesterol from being absorbed, lowering the cholesterol in your blood. So, food companies have developed foods with plant sterols or stanols added to them, such as mini yogurt drinks, fat spreads, milk and yogurts.

These fortified foods lower your cholesterol gradually, over a few weeks, and how much depends on the amount you eat.

Some experts believe they are the most effective single food for lowering cholesterol. Sterols and stanols have been thoroughly researched, so they can be added to foods and are safe to eat. Three servings of: OR. To get the most from these foods, eat some every day and eat them with a meal rather than on their own.

They can be branded, such as the Flora ProActiv and Benecol ranges, as well as supermarket own products. Download this 21 day challenge using plant sterols. Donate now. A review concluded that whole-apple consumption is an effective way to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, as well as systolic blood pressure and inflammatory markers.

The researchers recommended a daily intake of to grams a day of whole apples to reduce heart disease risk, which equates to one small-to-medium-sized apple per day.

Choosing buckwheat over refined grain products, like white rice and white bread, could help you lower your blood lipid levels, including total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and could also help improve your nutrient intake, as buckwheat is rich in vitamins and minerals like magnesium and potassium.

Studies show that people who eat fish more regularly tend to have healthier blood lipid levels, including higher levels of HDL cholesterol and lower levels of VLDL cholesterol, which could help protect against heart disease. Fish, especially fatty fish like sardines, trout, and salmon, is an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats , which are known to support healthy blood vessel function, plus vitamins and minerals like zinc, calcium, and selenium, making fish a good choice for overall health.

There are many factors that can contribute to high cholesterol levels, including your dietary choices. Though your diet as a whole is what matters most for heart health, limiting the following foods is wise if you have elevated blood lipid levels:. In addition to following a well-rounded, nutritious diet, a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise, quality sleep, and stress management can help support overall heart health and optimal blood lipid levels.

Staying physically active, getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking , and maintaining a healthy body weight are all essential for managing cholesterol levels.

People with familial hypercholesterolemia have a reduced capacity to remove excess LDL from their bloodstream and may require medical management in order to reduce their risk of heart disease. If you have familial hypercholesterolemia, your healthcare provider will recommend the best treatment based on your specific health needs.

If you have elevated cholesterol levels, there are plenty of ways to reduce your cholesterol while promoting overall heart health. Following a diet rich in foods known to lower cholesterol levels, like oats, berries, beans, nuts, and seeds, is one of the best ways to support healthy blood lipid levels and reduce your heart disease risk.

Joyce SA, Kamil A, Fleige L, Gahan CGM. The cholesterol-lowering effect of oats and oat beta glucan: modes of action and potential role of bile acids and the microbiome. Front Nutr. doi: Yu J, Xia J, Yang C, et al. Effects of oat beta-glucan intake on lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Guasch-Ferré M, Tessier AJ, Petersen KS, et al. Effects of nut consumption on blood lipids and lipoproteins: a comprehensive literature update. Luís Â, Domingues F, Pereira L. Association between berries intake and cardiovascular diseases risk factors: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Food Funct. Wu X, Wang TTY, Prior RL, Pehrsson PR. Prevention of atherosclerosis by berries: the case of blueberries. J Agric Food Chem. Alshahrani SM, Mashat RM, Almutairi D, et al. The effect of walnut intake on lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Nchanji EB, Ageyo OC. Do common beans Phaseolus vulgaris L. promote good health in humans? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and randomized controlled trials.

Doma KM, Dolinar KF, Dan Ramdath D, Wolever TMS, Duncan AM. Canned beans decrease serum total and ldl cholesterol in adults with elevated ldl cholesterol in a 4-wk multicenter, randomized, crossover study. J Nutr. Dreher ML, Cheng FW, Ford NA. A comprehensive review of hass avocado clinical trials, observational studies, and biological mechanisms.

Effect of flaxseed supplementation on lipid profile: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of sixty-two randomized controlled trials. Pharmacological Research. Ludovici V, Barthelmes J, Nägele MP, et al. Cocoa, blood pressure, and vascular function.

Kulczyński B, Kobus-Cisowska J, Taczanowski M, Kmiecik D, Gramza-Michałowska A. The chemical composition and nutritional value of chia seeds—current state of knowledge. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 13 Cholesterol-Lowering Foods to Add to Your Diet. Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES — By Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD — Updated on December 19, Legumes Avocados Nuts Fatty fish Whole grains Fruits and berries Dark chocolate Garlic Soy foods Vegetables Tea Leafy greens Olive oil FAQ Takeaway Some foods may help lower your cholesterol.

Types of cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is carried through your body by lipoproteins. These may increase your chance of stroke and heart disease. Was this helpful? Share on Pinterest.

Fatty fish. Whole grains. Fruits and berries. Dark chocolate and cocoa. Soy foods. Dark leafy greens. Extra virgin olive oil.

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Dec 19, Written By Kerri-Ann Jennings. Medically Reviewed By Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES. Mar 10, Written By Kerri-Ann Jennings.

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