According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), the higher your blood cholesterol level the greater your chances of developing heart disease. The amount of cholesterol in your blood can be determined through a simple blood test. The test typically measures three types of lipids in the blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, these are LDL or "bad" cholesterol, HDL or "good" cholesterol and triglycerides. Many lipid levels are affected by fat in your diet. Private MD labs.com recommends avoiding the consumption of fatty foods on the eve of your cholesterol test. Certain foods can impact the results of your cholesterol test both positively and negatively.
Saturated Fats
The Mayo Clinic says foods containing saturated fats can increase your cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are contained in meat, dairy products, poultry, seafood and eggs. They are also found in certain oils including palm and coconut.
Meat
The American Heart Association (AHA) says managing cholesterol levels includes choosing the leanest beef cuts (sirloin, chuck, loin and round). The leanest pork cuts include loin chops and tenderloins while the least fatty cuts of lamb are from the loin, arm and leg.
Fish
Fish is low in saturated fats and can help lower your cholesterol levels. The AHA recommends eating a minimum of two servings of fish per week. The AHA suggests baking, grilling or broiling fish instead of preparing it fried or breaded.
Dairy Products
Choosing fat-free or low fat dairy products can have a positive impact on your cholesterol levels. For example, the AHA says if you are currently drinking whole or 2 percent milk, try to make the switch to 1 percent or skim milk.
Trans Fats
The Mayo Clinic says trans fats are especially troublesome because they raise your amount of "bad" cholesterol while lowering your "good" cholesterol levels. Trans fats can be found in abundance in prepackaged baked goods such as doughnuts, French fries, crackers and cakes and shortening. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests replacing shortening or hard margarine with liquid vegetable oils and soft margarines.
