When your doctor decides that it is time to test your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the cholesterol results and numbers to be reported. Plan to spend a few minutes discussing these results with your doctor, covering how you can optimize them if that is in fact needed, and ask what your risk is for heart disease.

If your cholesterol numbers are not acceptable, your doctor may suggest that you take prescription medications to help get your cholesterol levels in a better range as quickly as possible. Not doing this could lead to heart attacks, so consider carefully the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your medical practitioner may just encourage you to improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and does not contain many foods of high cholesterol regularly.

Once you become of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to low cholesterol foods should be no difficulty, especially since you know that once you are eating better, your heart health is going to be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting lower.

This is exactly what you want, a strong heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be every other day going for a brisk 30 minute walk, as this will help your fitness level, and your overall health.

So, if you are to eat low cholesterol foods , what does that mean you will be eating, and what foods should you avoid? It is good to avoid an excess of foods from animals, so things like red meats should be consumed in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also high in cholesterol, but the egg whites are fine, so consider switching to egg white products rather than complete eggs.

On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still want to in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is less processed than light olive oil which is so called just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

Oat meal and oat bran is a good food to eat, and is also a great way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.

Dried peas, beans and lentils, otherwise called legumes are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain plant protein, which is good for the growth of tendons and muscles, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

Naturally, there are a lot more foods that could be mentioned for a low cholesterol diet, but there is limited space here. The important thing is to start bringing down your cholesterol now, so that you are not at risk of heart disease or strokes. But of course, this is entirely up to you, reduce your cholesterol now, or be at risk for strokes and heart attacks in your future.