What to eat if you have high cholesterol
A diet that helps you keep your numbers in check can still be delicious.
Jan 23, 2026
Written byTaylor Lupo
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Your diet can be a powerful tool when it comes to managing your cholesterol. Eating a healthy mix of foods can help you lower your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, aka “bad” cholesterol) while raising your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, aka “good” cholesterol). The key lies in a strategy that eliminates high-fat, artery-clogging foods (those high in saturated fats and trans fats like red meat, French fries, cookies, chips, and ice cream) and emphasizes heart-healthy ones like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based oils.
Let’s head to the kitchen to find tasty ways to improve your cholesterol.
Sources (4)
- National Lipid Foundation. Viscous Fiber and Your Cholesterol. Last reviewed July 2021.
- Harvard Medical School. 11 foods that lower cholesterol. August 13, 2021.
- Ha V, Sievenpiper JL, de Souza RJ, et al. Effect of dietary pulse intake on established therapeutic lipid targets for cardiovascular risk reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. CMAJ. 2014 May 13;186(8):E252-62.
- Kim SJ, de Souza RJ, Choo VL, et al. Effects of dietary pulse consumption on body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 May;103(5):1213-23.