Lowering Blood Cholesterol through diet alone

It has been shown that a moderate reduction in saturated fat (the cholesterol-raising fat found in meats and high-fat dairy products) can lower total blood cholesterol about 8 to 10 percent.

A more important indicator of heart disease risk is the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, the so-called bad cholesterol. Studies show that moderately low-fat diets can reduce LDL levels anywhere from 5 to 13 percent. A much more severe restriction of saturated fat can reduce LDL still further. From practical point of view an extremely restricted diet is more difficult to follow and maintain.

Adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans for fiber to a normal diet can certainly enhance a diet's cholesterol-lowering ability. Some people have a genetic tendency to produce high cholesterol levels, while in others these levels are strongly influenced by diet. But even in people who require medication to bring blood cholesterol levels down to normal, a healthy diet is still important for these medications to work properly.