How about a handful of almonds? A few simple tweaks to your diet — along with exercise and other heart-healthy habits — might help you lower your cholesterol. Oatmeal has soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol.

Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream.

Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol. One serving of a breakfast cereal with oatmeal or oat bran provides 3 to 4 grams of fiber. If you add fruit, such as a banana or berries, you'll get even more fiber. Fatty fish has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce your triglycerides — a type of fat found in blood.

These acids also may help lower your blood pressure and risk of developing blood clots. In people who have already had heart attacks, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of sudden death. Omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL cholesterol levels but may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL , the good cholesterol.

But because of those acids' other heart benefits, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week. Baking or grilling the fish avoids adding unhealthy fats.

Omega-3 and fish oil supplements are available. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. Almonds and other tree nuts can improve blood cholesterol. Studies have shown that walnuts, which have omega-3 fats, may help protect the heart and lower the risk of heart attack for people who already have heart disease.

All nuts are high in calories, so a handful added to a salad or eaten as a snack will do. Avocados are a good source of nutrients as well as monounsaturated fatty acids MUFAs.

Research suggests that the fiber from avocados can improve HDL cholesterol levels and the quality of LDL cholesterol. Adding two servings of avocado per week to a heart-healthy diet can lower your risk of heart disease. People tend to think of avocados in guacamole, which often is eaten with high-fat corn chips.

Try adding avocado slices to salads and sandwiches or eating them as a side dish. Also try guacamole with raw cut vegetables, such as cucumber slices.

Replacing saturated fats, such as those found in meats, with MUFAs are part of what makes the Mediterranean diet heart healthy. Try using olive oil in place of other fats in your diet. You can saute vegetables in olive oil, add it to a marinade or mix it with vinegar as a salad dressing.

You can also use olive oil as a substitute for butter when basting meat or as a dip for bread. Extra virgin olive oil also reduces the risk of heart attacks.

Sterols and stanols are substances found in plants that help block the absorption of cholesterol. Foods that have been fortified with sterols or stanols are available. Margarines and orange juice with added plant sterols can help lower LDL cholesterol.

It's not clear whether food with plant sterols or stanols lowers your risk of heart attack or stroke — although experts assume that foods that lower cholesterol do cut the risk. Plant sterols or stanols don't appear to affect levels of triglycerides or of high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol.

Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy. Studies have shown that whey protein given as a supplement lowers both LDL and total cholesterol as well as blood pressure.

You can find whey protein powders in health food stores and some grocery stores. Getting the full benefit of these foods requires other changes to your diet and lifestyle. One of the most helpful changes is limiting the saturated and trans fats you eat.

Saturated fats — such as those in meat, butter, cheese and other full-fat dairy products — raise your total cholesterol. Trans fats, sometimes listed on food labels as "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil," are often used in margarines and store-bought cookies, crackers and cakes.

Trans fats raise overall cholesterol levels. The Food and Drug Administration banned the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in processed foods sold after January 1, There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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Trans fat is mostly in foods made with hydrogenated oils and fats, such as stick margarine, crackers, and french fries. Instead of these bad fats, try healthier fats, such as lean meat, nuts, and unsaturated oils like canola, olive, and safflower oils. Limit foods with cholesterol. If you are trying to lower your cholesterol, you should have less than mg a day of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is in foods of animal origin, such as liver and other organ meats, egg yolks, shrimp, and whole milk dairy products. Eat plenty of soluble fiber. Foods high in soluble fiber help prevent your digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol. These foods include:.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase important cholesterol-lowering compounds in your diet.

These compounds, called plant stanols or sterols, work like soluble fiber. Eat fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These acids won't lower your LDL level, but they may help raise your HDL level. They may also protect your heart from blood clots and inflammation and reduce your risk of heart attack.

Fish that are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna canned or fresh , and mackerel. Try to eat these fish two times a week. Limit salt. You should try to limit the amount of sodium salt that you eat to no more than 2, milligrams about 1 teaspoon of salt a day.

That includes all the sodium you eat, whether it was added in cooking or at the table, or already present in food products. Limiting salt won't lower your cholesterol, but it can lower your risk of heart diseases by helping to lower your blood pressure.

You can reduce your sodium by instead choosing low-salt and "no added salt" foods and seasonings at the table or while cooking. Limit alcohol. Alcohol adds extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. Causes of High Cholesterol. How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol.

Cholesterol Tools and Resources. Home Health Topics Cholesterol Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol Cooking to Lower Cholesterol. 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.