A cholesterol chart lists cholesterol, saturated fat and related data for common foods. Use it to compare choices, focus on saturated/trans fats and overall dietary patterns, and discuss results with your clinician.
Limit foods high in saturated and trans fats - like fried items, processed meats, and full-fat dairy - and choose fiber-rich, plant-forward options to help lower LDL cholesterol. Work with your clinician for personalized advice.
High-cholesterol and high-fat foods are common in U.S. culture and contribute to heart disease risk. Modern advice focuses on overall eating patterns: reduce saturated and trans fats, eat more whole foods, and make practical swaps for lasting heart health.
Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from animal products, but saturated and trans fats have the biggest effect on LDL. Limit red and processed meats, full-fat dairy, butter and trans fats; choose unsaturated oils, lean proteins, and plant foods instead.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the "good" cholesterol carrier that helps remove excess cholesterol from arteries and deliver it to the liver. Lifestyle changes - exercise, quitting smoking, and healthy fats - help improve HDL; overall heart risk depends on the full lipid profile.
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.
Fats are essential: they provide energy, protect organs, and support brain health. Favor unsaturated fats and omega-3s, limit saturated fats to under about 10% of calories, and avoid industrial trans fats.
Limit fried foods, processed meats, and high-fat red meat; choose fish, poultry, plant proteins, and unsaturated oils. Favor baking, grilling, steaming, or air-frying and follow whole-diet patterns like Mediterranean eating to manage cholesterol.
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.
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.
Limit fatty red meats, many fast-food items, and high-fat dairy like whole milk and butter to reduce saturated fat and lower LDL cholesterol. Practical swaps: lean cuts, plant proteins, low-fat dairy, and unsaturated oils.
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.
A modern low-fat, low-cholesterol approach focuses on fat quality, whole grains, lean or plant proteins, unsalted nuts and regular fish while keeping saturated and trans fats low.
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.