Discuss your other medical conditions and any medicines you are taking, and bring a list of questions to your appointments. You can use this list of questions from the Million Hearts ® The Scoop on Statins webpage. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages.

Prevent High Cholesterol. Minus Related Pages. Make healthy eating choices Your body makes all of the cholesterol it needs, so you do not need to obtain cholesterol through foods. What you can do to help prevent cholesterol: Limit foods high in saturated fat.

Saturated fats come from animal products such as cheese, fatty meats, and dairy desserts and tropical oils such as palm oil. Foods that are higher in saturated fat may be high in cholesterol.

Choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium salt , and added sugars. These foods include lean meats; seafood; fat-free or low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt; whole grains; and fruits and vegetables.

Eat foods naturally high in fiber, such as oatmeal and beans black, pinto, kidney, lima, and others , and unsaturated fats, which can be found in avocados, vegetable oils like olive oil, and nuts.

Find healthy, seasonal recipes at the Million Hearts ® healthy recipes page. Maintain a healthy weight Talk with your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you. Last Reviewed: May 16, Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. home Cholesterol Home. These may include:. A review of 14 studies found that eating oily fish was associated with increased levels of HDL cholesterol and lower levels of triglycerides.

In a large year study in adults, people who ate the most non-fried fish were the least likely to develop metabolic syndrome , a cluster of symptoms that includes high blood pressure and low HDL levels.

The healthiest ways to cook fish are steaming or stewing. Fried fish may increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Extensive research ties whole grains to lower heart disease risk. Benefits were even greater when people ate up to seven servings of whole grains per day. Whole grains keep all parts of the grain intact.

This provides them with more vitamins, minerals, plant compounds, and fiber than refined grains. Many types of fruit are rich in soluble fiber. This helps lower cholesterol levels by encouraging your body to get rid of cholesterol and stopping your liver from producing this compound.

Fruits have bioactive compounds like anthocyanins, fiber, and phytosterol which may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

A study suggests that eating berries also helps increase HDL and lower LDL cholesterol. It may seem too good to be true, but research suggests that dark chocolate and cocoa may lower LDL cholesterol. In a study , adults drank a cocoa beverage twice a day for 1 month. They experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol of 0.

Their blood pressure also decreased and their HDL cholesterol increased. A review also found that several compounds in cocoa may help with cholesterol management.

For example, polyphenols may prevent the LDL cholesterol in your blood from oxidation, while resveratrol may increase HDL cholesterol. However, chocolate is often high in added sugar, which negatively affects heart health. Garlic contains various powerful plant compounds, including allicin.

A meta-analysis suggests that garlic may help lower LDL and total cholesterol. As such, garlic supplements may be more effective than other garlic preparations. Soybeans are a type of legume that may be beneficial for heart health.

However, research on how they affect cholesterol is mixed. For example, a review suggests that soybean oil may help lower LDL cholesterol when it replaces saturated fats.

Similarly, a review of 35 studies linked soy foods to reduced LDL and total cholesterol, as well as increased HDL cholesterol. To add more soy in your diet, try replacing meat with tofu or cooking with soybean oil.

A review found that eating more than three servings of fruits and vegetables per day helped lower levels of tryglicerides, blood pressure, and LDL and total cholesterol. A review of 37 guideline documents found that most of them suggested eating a diet high in vegetables.

Some ways to get more vegetables in your diet include making soups, cauliflower pizza crusts, and smoothies. You can also add vegetables to casseroles, sauces, and burgers.

For example, a review of 31 studies found that green tea helps lower LDL and total cholesterol levels. The primary compound in green tea responsible for these effects is catechins.

These help lower inflammation, oxidation, and carcinogen levels. Black tea and white tea have similar properties and health effects on cholesterol. Dark leafy greens, such as kale , spinach , and Swiss chard contain lutein and other carotenoids, which are linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

Dark leafy greens may also help lower cholesterol levels. The authors of a study in rats suggest that this is done because they bind to bile acids and help your body excrete more cholesterol.

A study in guinea pigs also found that lutein lowers levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol and could help prevent cholesterol from binding to artery walls.

Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most important foods in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. A review compared the effects of olive oil with other plant-based oils on cholesterol levels.

The researchers found that olive oil had a bigger impact on increasing HDL cholesterol. Similarly, a review found that consuming 20 grams per day of olive oil helped increase HDL cholesterol.

However, overall, the authors concluded that olive oil had minimal impacts on LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. More research is needed to fully support olive oil as a cholesterol-friendly food.

However, some foods that may help lower your LDL cholesterol include dark leafy greens, legumes and beans, and green tea. Some ways to lower your cholesterol include:. Some foods to avoid eating if you have high cholesterol include:. High cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease.

However, you may lower this risk by incorporating certain foods into your diet. Upping your intake of these foods will put you on the path to a balanced diet and keep your heart healthy. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Flax seed. Fish oil supplements with omega-3 fatty acids. Red yeast rice. Plant sterol and stanol supplements. Pros and cons of natural remedies. Pros of natural remedies Most natural remedies can be accessed without a prescription.

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Was this helpful? Diet and lifestyle changes. Medications for high cholesterol. The takeaway. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Mar 8, Medically Reviewed By Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT.

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Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. If you crave something sweet, try sherbet or candies with little or no fat, such as jelly beans.

Look for ways to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, such as using the stairs instead of taking the elevator or parking farther from your office. Take walks during breaks at work.

Try to increase standing activities, such as cooking or doing yardwork. Moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol — but the benefits aren't strong enough to recommend alcohol for anyone who doesn't already drink.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. Too much alcohol can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart failure and strokes.

Sometimes healthy lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower cholesterol levels. If your doctor recommends medication to help lower your cholesterol, take it as prescribed while continuing your lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes can help you keep your medication dose low.

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Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol. Products and services. Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol Lifestyle changes can help improve your cholesterol — and boost the cholesterol-lowering power of medications.

By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Show references Your guide to lowering your cholesterol with TLC. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

pdf Accessed May 22, Kumar P, et al. Lipid and metabolic disorders. In: Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed May 22, Tangney CC, et al. Lipid lowering with diet or dietary supplements.

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Skip to main content. Blood and blood vessels. Home Blood and blood vessels. Cholesterol - healthy eating tips. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Types of cholesterol How is cholesterol measured? What causes high cholesterol? Cholesterol and healthy eating Healthy eating tips to lower cholesterol Dietary fibre Dietary fats Unhealthy fats Healthy fats Triglycerides in your blood Lowering triglycerides Treatment for high cholesterol Where to get help.

How is cholesterol measured? Most people with high cholesterol feel perfectly well and often have no symptoms. Some causes of high cholesterol include: High intake of foods containing unhealthy fats saturated fats and trans fats — such as fatty meats and deli-style meats, butter, cream, ice cream, coconut oil, palm oil and most deep-fried takeaway foods and commercially baked products such as pies, biscuits, buns and pastries.

Low intake of foods containing healthy fats — healthy fats tend to increase the good HDL cholesterol. Foods containing healthy fats include avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, cooking oils made from plants or seeds, and fish.

Low intake of foods containing fibre — foods that are high in dietary fibre, particularly soluble fibre, can reduce the amount of bad LDL cholesterol in your blood. Include fibre-containing foods in your diet by choosing vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds every day.

Low levels of physical activity and exercise. Being overweight or obese and having too much body fat around your middle. Smoking can lead to high cholesterol levels. Genetics — your family history may affect your cholesterol level.

In some families, several people might be diagnosed with high cholesterol or heart disease at a relatively young age men below age 55 years and women below 65 years. This type of pattern can be caused by genetics, including a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Cholesterol and healthy eating What we eat has an impact on our cholesterol levels and can help reduce our risk of disease. A heart-healthy eating pattern includes: plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrains a variety of healthy protein-rich foods especially fish and seafood , legumes such as beans and lentils , nuts and seeds.

Smaller amounts of eggs and lean poultry can also be included in a heart-healthy eating pattern. If choosing red meat, make sure it is lean and limit to one to three times a week unflavoured milk , yoghurt and cheese.

People with high cholesterol should choose reduced fat varieties healthy fats and oils. Choose nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and their oils for cooking herbs and spices to flavour foods, instead of adding salt. Serving size can vary depending on age, gender and specific nutrition needs.

Healthy eating tips to lower cholesterol As well as sticking to a varied and healthy diet, try these tips to help you manage your cholesterol: The Heart Foundation recommends that people follow a heart-healthy eating pattern, which is built on eating mostly plant-based foods.

Eating more plant-based foods like vegetables, legumes, fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds is good for heart health. Include legumes or pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, split peas , beans such as haricot beans, kidney beans, baked beans , bean mixes in at least two meals a week.