Whether you're trying to lower your cholesterol or maintain the cholesterol levels in your blood, no factor matters more than your diet. Even an active individual can have cholesterol problems due to a diet that pushes them beyond the upper limit of what is considered a safe cholesterol count. It may not be what a meat lover wants to hear, but if you want to take control of your cholesterol through diet, you'll probably have to make some dietary sacrifices.
Step 1
Decrease saturated fats and increase fiber intake. Do this with whole grains (such as oatmeal), fruits and vegetables. Your saturated fats should make up no more than 7 percent of your total calories from fat. Fiber, meanwhile, will help you pass cholesterol through your system rather than absorb it.
Step 2
Cut out trans fats. These are most commonly found in butter and milk, but are also used in processed foods such as potato chips. Because of increasing awareness of trans fats, you should have no problem avoiding them in the grocery aisle--choose foods labeled as trans fat-free.
Step 3
Drink at least eight glasses (64 oz.) of fluids each day.
Step 4
Eat low-sodium foods, and try to cook at home to avoid the salt that comes with most prepackaged foods. At restaurants, choose the heart-healthy menu items.
Step 5
Cook with vegetable oils instead of palm, olive and other fatty oils. You can substitute some, such as canola oil for olive oil, in almost any situation.
Step 6
Forgo red meat in favor of chicken and fish.
Step 7
Drink alcohol moderately, if at all.
