Practical, updated guidance for lowering LDL cholesterol: emphasize plant foods and soluble fiber, eat fatty fish and nuts, replace saturated fats with unsaturated oils, avoid trans fats, and combine diet with regular exercise and medical monitoring.
Practical, sustainable diet changes - less saturated and trans fat, more plant foods, fiber, and healthy oils - can reduce LDL cholesterol. Small swaps (lean proteins, low-fat dairy, olive oil, beans, oats) add up.
Health claims link foods or nutrients to reduced disease risk and are tightly regulated by the FDA. Authorized and qualified claims must be supported by science and meet nutrient criteria; common examples include calcium and osteoporosis, folate and neural tube defects, soluble fiber and heart disease, and soy protein and heart disease.
High LDL (bad) cholesterol raises heart attack and stroke risk. You can lower risk with diet, exercise, and, when needed, statins; test and discuss personalized care with your clinician.
Animal foods contain dietary cholesterol, but saturated and trans fats have a larger impact on LDL. Lower your cholesterol by choosing plant-based foods, unsaturated fats, fish, and soluble fiber while limiting red/processed meat, full-fat dairy, and trans fats.
Cholesterol is essential, but too much LDL raises heart risk. Lower LDL by limiting saturated and trans fats, increasing soluble fiber, choosing unsaturated oils, and eating whole foods.
Lowering LDL cholesterol works best by cutting saturated/trans fats, boosting soluble fiber, and choosing plant-forward foods. Dietary cholesterol (only in animal foods) matters less than the type of fat and overall pattern.
This updated guide explains current prescription options for lowering cholesterol - from statins to PCSK9 inhibitors - and practical lifestyle measures such as soluble fiber, plant sterols, and a Mediterranean-style diet.
Cholesterol and diet are closely linked: foods high in saturated and trans fats raise LDL, while fiber, unsaturated fats, and patterns like the Mediterranean diet lower risk. Combine diet, activity, and medical evaluation to manage cholesterol effectively.
Lowering high cholesterol combines proven lifestyle changes - cutting saturated fat, adding soluble fiber, and regular exercise - with medication when needed. Work with your clinician to set goals and monitor progress.
Adopt a sustainable, whole-foods approach to lower cholesterol: prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and soluble fiber, limit saturated fats and sweets, and pair diet changes with about 150 minutes a week of activity.
Cholesterol is essential for cells, hormones, and vitamin D. The liver makes most cholesterol; dietary saturated fats have the strongest effect on raising LDL. You can lower LDL with soluble fiber, unsaturated fats, plant sterols, weight loss, and exercise. Discuss individual targets with your clinician.
To lower LDL cholesterol, limit saturated fats, trans fats, fried foods, and high-fat dairy. Choose vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fatty fish, and unsaturated oils. Combine diet with exercise and medical guidance.
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.
High cholesterol results from diet, lifestyle, genetics, and other health conditions. You can lower LDL and improve lipids with diet changes, exercise, quitting smoking, and, when needed, medication.