Dietary patterns - especially Mediterranean-style eating, more soluble fiber and plant sterols, and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats - can lower LDL cholesterol, but average reductions are modest and individual responses vary.
Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products; to lower blood cholesterol focus on reducing saturated and trans fats, choosing plant-forward foods, and adding fiber-rich whole grains, beans, nuts, and healthy oils.
A clear, up-to-date guide to what cholesterol does, how LDL and HDL affect cardiovascular risk, which foods and habits raise cholesterol, and practical steps to lower it.