Anticholesterol Diet

Cholesterol is an essential fat-like substance the body needs to digest food and create necessary hormones. However, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol, will build up in the arteries and large amounts can lead to heart disease. Any anti-cholesterol diet should focus on reducing this type of cholesterol in the bloodstream, and there are may tasty options available.

Lean Meat

Meat, especially red meat, comes loaded with saturated fat that contains LDL cholesterol, which can clog your arteries and pack on pounds. Include lean meats in your diet like chicken and fish, as these foods are lower in saturated fat. Instead of a hamburger, substitute ground turkey or ground chicken. If you must have red meat, trim the fat before cooking, or drain off the grease after cooking to decrease saturated fat.

Eggs and Vegetables

Cholesterol in eggs exists entirely in the yolk, so incorporate egg whites only into your breakfast dishes and other meals. Replace each whole egg with two egg whites to maintain portion sizes in dishes like omelets or scrambled eggs. Egg substitutes are another useful option. Egg whites offer all the protein of whole eggs with none of the cholesterol.

No discussion of an anti-cholesterol diet would be complete without mentioning vegetables. Besides containing no LDL, green vegetables are easily processed by your digestive system and help clean out toxins and other impurities that may clog your arteries. Feel free to eat broccoli, peas and leafy vegetables like lettuce and cabbage.

Low-Fat Dairy

Use low-fat milk and cheeses, and substitute a little low-fat yogurt for ice cream when you snack. Cut your portions if you must consume dairy products with fat. Also, beware of white flour because of its high carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates can contribute to high cholesterol, so switch over to whole-grain breads, oatmeal and brown rice.