Although cholesterol is required for the proper functioning of the body, high blood cholesterol levels can be quite dangerous. When the cholesterol levels in your blood are high, it tends to stick on the walls of the arteries, narrowing or even blocking them. High cholesterol levels increase the risk of coronary artery disease and other heart diseases, but a well-planned diet can help you lower your cholesterol levels. Let’s look at a few dietary tips for patients with high cholesterol levels:

• Choose healthy fats : Keeping a check on both total and saturated fats is an effective dietary tip for patients with high cholesterol. Lower than 25 to 30 percent of your total calories should come from dietary fats, and less than 7 percent should come from saturated fats. Saturated fats are extremely harmful, as they tend to shoot up your LDL or bad cholesterol levels. Trans fats can also raise LDL cholesterol levels, so the best option is healthy fats like nuts and lean meat. You should use unsaturated oil like olive oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil.
• Lower the intake of cholesterol-rich food : Foods rich in cholesterol are harmful, as your cholesterol levels are already high. So, it is best to avoid organ meats, egg yolks, whole milk, full-fat dairy products, and shrimp.
• Eat lots of food with soluble fiber : Soluble fiber helps lower bad cholesterol levels, so your diet should include plenty of fibrous foods like whole-grain cereals, fruits, legumes, and lentils.
• Include lots of fruit and vegetables : Following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a helpful dietary tip for patients with high cholesterol, as fruits and vegetables can increase important good cholesterol levels. Compounds known as plant stanols and sterols also work like soluble fiber and are essentials elements in your diet plan.
• Omega-3 fatty acids : Although Omega-3 fatty acids do not help in lowering your LDL cholesterol levels, they go a long way in raising your HDL cholesterol levels. They can also help prevent blood clots and inflammation, reducing your risk of heart attack and other heart diseases. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids and should be included in your diet.
• Limit your salt intake : You need to keep a watch on the amount of salt you include in your diet, as sodium can cause blood pressure levels to shoot up, putting you at risk of heart disease.
• Bring down alcohol intake : The empty calories can come from excessive alcohol intake, leading to obesity, which puts you at a higher risk of getting heart disease.

Always check the nutrition labels of the food that you buy to ensure that you meet your daily nutritional requirements and maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels.