What is a heart-healthy diet? We are here to help you understand the types of foods your body needs in order to keep a healthy cholesterol level. If your GP has advised you to change your diet to help reduce your cholesterol, then you should cut down on saturated fats and consume more fibre, that means eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. 

In this lifestyle blog, we will outline what a low cholesterol diet is, what foods are high in cholesterol and how you can lower your cholesterol, so you can be on your way to living an extra healthy lifestyle.

What Is Cholesterol?

The easiest way to explain Cholesterol is to describe it as a waxy substance which is found in your blood. Your body requires cholesterol in order to build healthy cells, However, if your cholesterol is raised and considered high, it can increase your risk of heart disease.

With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels, if left untreated the fatty deposits grow subsequently, making it more difficult for the blood to flow easily through your arteries. Sometimes, the deposits can break and form a clot that causes a heart attack and or a stroke - High Cholesterol can be inherited, but it is often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

How Can I Lower My Cholesterol?

There are plenty of ways in which you can reduce your cholesterol, the best course of action is to take up a more healthy diet, reduce your consumption of saturated fats and increase your exercise.  It is very important to keep an eye on your cholesterol levels and high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease and strokes.

Low Cholesterol Food List:

There are plenty of foods that help lower cholesterol, but we have listed some super foods below that really help reduce cholesterol levels.

  • Fruit

  • Vegetables

  • Oats

  • Nuts

  • Barley

In order to have a healthy diet, you should try and eat some of the above every day. The more of these healthy foods that you introduce to your diet, the more chance you have of lowering your cholesterol.

What Is A Low Cholesterol Diet?

A low cholesterol diet consists mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables, it also replaces saturated fats with more healthy fats. Check out the list below which highlights healthy alternatives:

  • Instead of butter use vegetable oils such as; Olive, Corn, Sunflower and Rapeseed

  • Popcorn instead of Crisps

  • Dark Chocolate instead of Milk Chocolate

  • Hummus instead of fatty, creamy dips 

Where Can I Find Low Cholesterol Diet Recipes?

Google is your friend, there are so many amazing websites which offer free help, guidance and support, along with some exceptional low cholesterol diet plans and recipes.  

Heart UK the cholesterol charity, have tons of fabulously free resources available, check out their healthy living section online to get your low cholesterol diet inspo.