Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Foods To Help Lower LDL ('Bad') Cholesterol

Soy milk, almond milk, and other non-dairy products may also be options. Check to see if they're fortified with calcium and other nutrients. When shopping for these drinks, choose the unsweetened products to avoid added sugar.

Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Meat Substitutes: The American Heart Association suggests two servings of fish a week. Eat more heart-healthy tofu and other soy protein, too. Limit fatty cuts of meat.

Beef, lean cuts, and lean ground round or sirloin
Chicken or turkey breasts and tenders, skinless, boneless
Chicken or turkey, ground
Fish, high in omega-3s, such as herring, mackerel, salmon, trout, tuna
Pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat
Seitan
Tempeh
Tofu

Frozen Foods: When your favourite fruits and veggies are out of season, choose frozen ones for nutritious desserts, side dishes, and snacks.

Fruits without added sugar (for example, frozen blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
Soybeans (edamame)
Vegetables and vegetable blends without added sauce, gravy, or sodium

Pantry Essential Foods

Beans, Grains, Soups, and Sauces: Beans and whole grains offer fiber to help lower your cholesterol.

Barley

Beans, canned, reduced-sodium: assorted cans of beans such as black, garbanzo, kidney, navy, and pinto.

Beans dried: Choose your favourite beans.

Broth, reduced-sodium chicken, beef or vegetable
Cereals, whole-grain (Note: Choose cereals that have 5 or more grams of dietary fiber and fewer than 8 grams of sugar per serving.)
Cornmeal
Flaxseed, ground or whole
Flour, whole wheat
Grains such as wheat berries, couscous, polenta, millet, bulgur, and quinoa
Oat bran
Oats, rolled, steel-cut, or Irish
Pasta sauce, low-fat or fat-free
Pasta, whole wheat, spelt, or kamut (Note: These whole-grain pasta come in bowtie, fettuccini, lasagna, spaghetti, fusilli, spiral, elbow macaroni, and ravioli varieties.)

Rice: brown, wild, and brown basmati

Soups, low-sodium, and 98% fat-free cream of mushroom
Soy flour
Tomato paste
Tomatoes, whole or diced, reduced-sodium
Vegetarian or non-fat refried beans

Your Heart-Healthy Grocery Shopping List

Heart-healthy foods can help lower your cholesterol and keep your blood pressure in check. Stock your kitchen with these items. 45 American Dietetic Association: "Fresh, Canned, or Frozen?"

Healthy eating starts with having the right heart-healthy foods in your kitchen. They help lower cholesterol and keep your blood pressure in check. If you aren't sure which foods to buy, print this list to take to the supermarket.

Refrigerator Essentials

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, fruits and veggies also have fiber, which lowers cholesterol and improves heart health. Pull them out first when you want something to eat. Remember, you need 5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day.