To reverse the cholesterol numbers eating foods from the low cholesterol list will get you on the road to bringing down the numbers. The high numbers are the fastest way to heart disease and getting them down with the harsh drugs is not the smartest thing to do.

The foods that are low in cholesterol are not difficult to keep up with and taste good and are very healthy. We begin with your whole grains, vegetables, nuts and fruits. Cold water fish is best but most fish and poultry keep the cholesterol numbers down.

Starting on a diet to keep the cholesterol numbers down is not really that hard. The best time to begin this type of diet is when we are young so parents teach your kids early in life. Changing the diet when we are old and set in our ways is hard because we just refuse to change. But truth be told making the change is not tough at all. Take a look at our list of foods that should be included on your cholesterol lowering diet.

Fruits and Vegetables

Cholesterol or the bad kind comes primarily from sources of animal meats. So when we talk fruits and vegetables, they are essentially free of cholesterol. By just adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals and cutting back on the meats you add more vitamins and minerals to your body. This serves to make you healthier and being healthier drives down the numbers. Do not stop eating meat altogether because you need the vitamin B sources you get from it for good health.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are best because of the dietary fiber and the fact that they provide a good source of energy. Do not go overboard with whole grains and limit the breads loaded with dairy and sugar. You may be starting to see a pattern here that also leads to maintaining the ideal weight also.

Fish and Poultry

Fish and poultry all tend to have much lower levels of bad cholesterol and saturated fats than beef and pork. Truth be told shellfish are really low cholesterol sources. Most of the problems come from the condiments we eat with them that cause all the trouble. Consider shrimp are most often enjoyed fried or boiled and dipped in butter and this is what really drives the cholesterol numbers off the chart. But remember if you are maintaining a heart healthy diet you still get to enjoy the shellfish and meats as long as you limit your intake.

Eggs

Eggs get a bad rap and the claim is the yokes are high in cholesterol which to some degree is true but it is a much healthier form of cholesterol and a top source of protein. Organic raised chickens lay eggs that are higher in Omega 3 and today you can even buy your natural eggs that are healthy. Don’t bother with just the egg whites and egg substitutes because all the healthy nutrients are in the yokes not the whites.

Low Cholesterol Snacks

Be careful here because almost all of the products you see on the labels as low in fat or low in cholesterol and state they are heart healthy snacks. The problems are all the chemicals and high fructose corn syrup and junk they put in the make them taste good is what gets you. Fruits, raw vegetables and nuts all make great healthy snacks in small amounts. Sometimes you read cereals; bagels and crackers are good snacks. A bagel will turn to sugar almost as fast as you can eat it. Cereals check the labels for all the chemicals because they are as bad as the high cholesterol on your body.

Sweets

The craving for sweets is a problem many people have. It is a problem you can overcome with a little effort. One little trick I use is mix almond butter with a little honey and flaxseed. Or even better if you can find it pecan butter is very good. When the craving hits you grab a spoon full and eat is slowly will extinguish the craving every time.

Omega-3 We Need "Good Fats"

The good fats a regular intake of help your heart to stay healthy and maintain a clear blood flow come from omega -3. The best sources are from cold water fish like salmon. Forget the farm raised to many “carcinogens” make them very unhealthy. A new source on the market is krill oil is very good source of omega 3 but supplies are limited. Stick to the fish oil supplements that are just omega 3 without the added 6s and 9s.

How to lower cholesterol

If you've recently been diagnosed with high cholesterol, this is a question you need answered.  You also probably have questions, to which you want straight answers - not some mumbo-jumbo that you can't make heads or tails of.
Before we can answer your question, "How to lower cholesterol?", we need to take a quick look at what cholesterol really is - believe it or not, your body really does need it!

You'll want to know about normal cholesterol levels - what numbers should you be looking for (and what's way too high)?  And darn it, what do "HDL" and "LDL" really mean?

Let's take a look at the role cholesterol plays in your body, and then tackle the following questions:

• How did your cholesterol get so high?
• Should you take cholesterol-lowering drugs?
• Are there ways to lower cholesterol naturally?
• What are some foods high in cholesterol that you need to avoid?
• Will you die from high cholesterol?

Let's get started with the basics - what is cholesterol and why your body needs it.

How to Lower Cholesterol (or, "Cholesterol 101")

Cholesterol is a waxy, sticky substance that is part of the cells in your body.  It roams around in your bloodstream, going to where it's needed; for example, to help make vitamin D in your body.  It's a vital part of your life; without cholesterol, you would die.  The problem is this -- you don't want too much of a good thing!  If there is too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can clog up your arteries, and that spells bad news.

Cholesterol is actually manufactured in your liver, but you can also get more of it from the foods you eat.  That's why you need to look closely at what you eat, as well as how much of any cholesterol-laden foods you have regularly. So part of how to lower cholesterol levels is genetics, and part is your lifestyle.

You've heard of LDL and HDL, right?  They are both forms of cholesterol, but one kind, the LDL (also known as low-density lipoprotein) is harder on your body, so you want the LDL level to be low.  On the other hand, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is easier on your body, and even helps to clear out the bad stuff.  So, you want your HDL to be higher.

Both numbers put together add up to your total cholesterol level reading.

High Cholesterol - How Did You Get It?

How did you end up with high cholesterol anyway?  There are probably a few factors in anyone's battle against high cholesterol levels -- some of which you can control, and others that you can't.

One of the factors that you can't control is genetics; just as some people are naturally blessed with low cholesterol levels, other people are pre-disposed to high cholesterol levels.  So one reason you might have high cholesterol readings is your family background.

Another way you can get elevated levels is if you eat a lot of high cholesterol foods.  You probably know what they are -- fatty red meats, trans fats, and saturated fats.  Then there are foods like the cholesterol in shrimp which have no fat at all, but are still problems.  (Not to worry; you'll learn about both foods to avoid, and foods that lower cholesterol.)  And then there is the cholesterol and smoking connection; yet another reason to quit!

Should You Take Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?

This is a discussion you'll need to have with your doctor, and it depends on several factors, one being how high is your level of cholesterol?  Other considerations are risk factors for other conditions, your weight, physical activity and (of course) genetics.

How to Lower Cholesterol can be done naturally, so you'll also want to explore these options as well -- including a simple vitamin that can make a huge difference.  Yes, there are ways to lower cholesterol without drugs!

Will High Cholesterol Kill You?

It's a tricky question; having high cholesterol levels won't kill you directly, but they can cause other problems that can lead to death.  For example, if cholesterol plaques up in your arteries, it could cause a heart attack which could in turn kill you.

How to Lower Cholesterol

You'll see from these links various ways to answer your question as to how to lower cholesterol.  Take a few minutes to learn about this substance that gives you life, and what you can do to lower your cholesterol levels safely.