Lipoproteins known as LDL cholesterol may cause buildup of fat or plaque on the inside of vessel walls, narrowing or blocking blood flow. This narrowing of the blood vessels may lead to coronary artery disease or even cause a heart attack or stroke. Eating a nutritious and balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels. However, some foods should be avoided for optimal health and wellness benefits.
Fatty Meats
Avoid fatty cuts of meat including lamb and pork, suggests the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Avoid hot dogs and sausages and sandwich spreads. Choose lean ground beef over regular and trim fat off all meat. Avoid organ meats like heart, kidneys and gizzards. Remove the skin from chicken and if you prepare shellfish or fish, limit buttery toppings or dips, avoiding any fish that is deep-fried. Try to limit meat intake to about 6 ounces a day. Some people substitute beans for protein, but limit intake of canned beans of any variety, as many selections contain added sugars and calories.
Dairy Products
Avoid whole-milk dairy products and select fat-free versions of milk and butters. Stay away from yogurt or ice creams made from whole milk. Avoid evaporated milk for cereals, baking or beverages as evaporated milk is high in fat. Choose fat-free options instead. Limit eggs to two a week, including those used in cooking and baking.
Fats
Choose unsaturated oils for cooking, and stay away from butter, shortening, bacon fat and stick margarine high in fat content. Limit ingestion of fats to about 6 teaspoons a day. Avoid any type of lard or suet, beef tallow or animal fat, suggests GI Care. Avoid cooking oils such as palm and coconut oils and other forms of hydrogenated fat.
Cheese
Cheese is tasty, but it's also loaded with fat, especially Brie, Parmesan and Edam, according to the University of Massachusetts. Instead, choose low-fat natural selections or those with under 3 grams of fat per serving. Especially avoid cream cheeses and cheese spreads, suggests the GI Care.com website.
Chips and Fries
Stay away from any type of fried or processed foods like chips and French fries, suggests The Diet Channel. Potato chips of any kind are typically high in saturated fats and are loaded with fatty acids. The fat content in most fast foods is still high despite many fast food chains' transition to no-trans fat cooking oil practices. Avoid any type of fried foods when attempting to lower cholesterol.
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