If your cholesterol is too high, you could have an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions. By lowering your cholesterol, you can reduce those risks and experience greater health. Most physicians will tell you that it’s imperative to lower blood cholesterol levels if they’re too high, as the risks are huge. Below, we’ll discuss a few different ways to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Foods

One of the best ways to lower blood cholesterol levels is to eat certain foods that help lower that ‘bad cholesterol.’ Whole grains are a wonderful food that helps lower cholesterol. In fact, certain studies have stated that people who eat a lot of whole grain seem to have thinnest cartoid artery walls as well as a very slow progression in artery wall thickness. Blueberries are a great food that helps reduce cholesterol as well, through a compound called pterostilbene. Any food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, such as walnuts or pistachios, can greatly reduce your cholesterol levels. In fact, some experts believe omega-3 fatty acids can reverse damage done to arteries by saturated fats.

What to Avoid

While you’re adding these heart-healthy foods to your grocery list, you’ll want to cross off some of the ones that could be doing more damage to high cholesterol patients. Fatty meats and poultry with skin (like fried chicken), high-fat milk, cheeses, and even eggs can cause your cholesterol level to rise because of the saturated fats they contain. For most of these foods, it’s easy to find alternatives; lean meats and fish, low-fat cheeses, skim milk, and egg whites or egg alternatives. Avoiding these foods can significantly lower cholesterol.

Medications

If you’ve been dieting for some time but your doctor doesn’t feel as if it’s working, he may suggest certain medications that can help lower blood cholesterol levels. In any case it’s important to discuss the issue with your doctor.