When your doctor decides that it is time to check your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the cholesterol results and numbers to come back. You would do well to spend a little discussing these numbers with your doctor, asking about how you can improve them if that is in fact needed, and find out what your risk is for heart disease.

If your cholesterol numbers are not in the optimal range, your doctor may suggest that you take prescription drugs to help get your cholesterol levels in a better range as soon as possible. Not doing this could lead to heart attacks, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your medical practitioner may just encourage you to improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and does not contain many high cholesterol foods on a regular basis.

Once you become of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to good foods should be no difficulty, especially as you know that once you have changed, your heart health will be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting less.

This is precisely what you need, a healthy heart. But along with the low cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be every other day going for a brisk walk for about 30 minutes, as this will help your fitness level, and your overall health.

So, if you are to eat foods that are low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be eating, and what foods should you avoid? It is necessary to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be eaten in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also of high cholesterol, but the egg whites are good for you, so think about moving over to egg white products rather than whole eggs.

Butter is not recommended, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still want to in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is processed less than light olive oil which is so called just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

Oat bran and oatmeal is a good food to eat, and is also a great way to start your day. It provides you with soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.

Pulses, or legumes, or dried peas, dried beans and lentils are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain plant protein, which is good for the growth of tendons and muscles, as well as good for internal organs, blood, hair and bones, too.

There are obviously many more foods that contribute to a low cholesterol diet, but I am running out of space here. What is important is to start lowering your cholesterol now, so that you are not at risk of heart disease or strokes. But of course, this is entirely up to you, lower your cholesterol now, or be at risk for strokes and heart attacks in your future.