Should your doctor decide that it is time to test 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 results 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 recommend that you take prescription drugs to get your cholesterol numbers in a better range as quickly as possible. Not doing this could lead to heart disease, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your doctor may just suggest that you improve your diet, moving to a low cholesterol diet, and does not contain many foods of high cholesterol on a regular basis.

Once you become of the foods that are good and bad for you, then switching to low cholesterol foods should not be a problem, especially as you know that once you are eating better, your heart health will be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be falling.

This is exactly what you need, a healthy heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you should also be exercising, may be four days a week going for a brisk 30 minute walk, as this will help your fitness level, and your general 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 not eat? 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 fine, so consider moving over to egg white products rather than whole eggs.

On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is an animal product, so if you still need to cook in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is processed less than light olive oil which is called that just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

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

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 there is limited space here. The important thing is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, this is entirely up to you, lower your cholesterol now, or have the threat of heart attacks and strokes in your future.