Tips on Reducing Cholesterol

What should I eat?
Enjoy foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, including:
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • High-fiber foods
  • Fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy products
  • Omega-3 containing fish like salmon, trout and haddock
  • Lean red meats and poultry without skin 
  • Beans and peas
  • Nuts and seeds in limited amounts
  • Unsaturated vegetable oils like canola, olive, safflower and sunflower oils in limited amounts

What should I limit?

  • Whole milk, cream and ice cream
  • Butter, egg yolks and cheese, and foods made with them
  • Organ meats like liver, sweetbreads, kidney and brain
  • Bakery goods made with egg yolks and saturated fats
  • Saturated oils like coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil
  • Foods with trans fats like fried foods, baked goods, stick margarines and shortenings 
  • High-fat processed meats like sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs
  • Fatty red meats that aren't trimmed
  • Duck and goose meat
  • Solid fats like shortening, soft margarine and lard
  • Fried foods

What are some cooking tips for me?

  • Use a rack to drain off fat when you broil, roast or bake.
  • Don't baste with drippings; use wine, fruit juice or marinade.
  • Broil instead of pan-frying.
  • Cut all the fat you can see off of any meat you cook, and take all the skin off chicken and turkey.
  • Use a vegetable oil spray to brown or sauté foods.
  • Serve smaller portions of dishes that have some fat, and serve bigger portions of no-fat dishes like pasta, rice, beans and vegetables.
  • Make recipes or egg dishes with egg whites, not yolks.
  • Instead of regular cheese, use low-fat cottage cheese, part fat-free milk mozzarella, and other low-fat and nonfat cheeses.
  • Use low-fat cookbooks and recipes.

See all of our latest Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations



This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 10/03/08.


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Managing Your Cholesterol

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Downloadable Documents
How Can I Lower High Cholesterol?

How Can I Lower High Cholesterol? (Espa?ol)

How Can I Cook Healthfully?

How Can I Cook Healthfully? (Espa?ol)

How Do I Change Recipes?


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