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High Cholesterol Diet
A diet with high cholesterol can lead to high blood cholesterol. Making dietary changes can help reduce or control cholesterol levels. A diet for lowering cholesterol focuses on plant-based products -- such as vegetables and legumes -- while cutting back on animal-based products. While adopting a healthier eating plan is not always easy, it can offer many health benefits.
For people with high cholesterol, making a few dietary changes can improve blood cholesterol levels. Many people with elevated cholesterol levels also have a high cholesterol diet. Health experts recommend a low cholesterol diet to treat people with high cholesterol. This eating plan is low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. It should meet the following criteria:
- Saturated fat intake -- Less than 7 percent of daily calories
- Total fat intake -- 25 to 35 percent of the day's total calories
- Salt intake -- Less than 2,400 mg per day
- Dietary cholesterol -- Less than 200 mg per day.
A low cholesterol diet also promotes:
- Eating only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight
- Increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet from sources such as oatmeal, kidney beans, and apples
- Adding cholesterol-lowering foods to your diet, such as margarines containing plant stanols or plant sterols.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD