UNDERSTANDING CHOLESTEROL

• What are the different types of cholesterol?
• Total cholesterol is a combination of the good cholesterol (HDL) and the bad cholesterol (LDL). Cholesterol is necessary in the human body for cellular repair, hormone production, and digestion just to name a few. HDLs (high density lipids) absorbs cholesterol from your blood and bring it back to the liver where it is removed from your body. LDLs (low density lipids) bring the cholesterol to the cells and body areas that need cholesterol. LDL also deposits cholesterol in your arteries, which can become a problem.
• What foods are good for my cholesterol?
• Limit foods high in saturated fats.
• Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and tofu.
• Eat more oily fish like salmon and mackerel, which contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce cholesterol and inflammation.
• Eat nuts like walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, and pistachios, which contain omega-3 fatty acids and phytosterols that may help lower cholesterol.
• Eat less fatty foods, like sausages, butter, cream, and hard cheese. 
• What does fiber have to do with cholesterol?
• Soluble fiber can help reduce the amount of cholesterol your bloodstream absorbs. You can try to eat five to 10 grams of soluble fiber per day to lower your LDL cholesterol.
• Eat more foods that contain soluble fiber, like oatmeal, oat bran, apples, pears, kidney beans, and Brussels sprouts.