List of Foods That Help Lower Cholesterol

Eating a diet with lean meats, dark green vegetables and fiber-rich foods can help reduce cholesterol levels. While eating a healthy diet can help reduce cholesterol levels, it is sometimes necessary to add prescription medications. Check with your doctor if you have concerns about your cholesterol.

Function

The body makes over 75 percent of cholesterol. Not all cholesterol is bad. Good cholesterol, or HDL, is important for the body to maintain proper function. Eating a healthy diet helps in the production of HDL cholesterol.

Prevention/Solution

Avoid food with trans fat and saturated fat, such as fried food and processed foods. Limit consumption of red meats, eggs (especially yolks), organ meats and whole milk dairy products.

Fibrous Foods

Adding fiber-rich foods can help lower cholesterol. Choose foods such as oatmeal, beans, bran or oats. If purchasing processed foods, be certain that the food does not contain any trans fat or saturated fat.

Vegetables

Dark green, leafy vegetables also help reduce cholesterol levels. Examples include kale, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), dark green leaf lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens and romaine lettuce. Avoid iceberg lettuce.

Meats

Chose lean meats such as white meat chicken and turkey, and fish.

Oils

Eliminate butter from the diet. Instead use olive oil, canola oil and grape seed oil.