What foods should I avoid with high cholesterol?

The most valuable thing to keep in mind when you’re meal planning and thinking about adjusting your typical foods to reduce high cholesterol is that your diet should be well-balanced and nutritious (i.e., lots of vitamins, minerals, and healthy proteins).

In regards to high cholesterol management, avoiding certain types of food known to cause high cholesterol is a good choice. This could include high cholesterol foods like:

  • Fried foods (i.e., french fries, breaded, fried meat, anything cooked in oil)
  • Foods made with trans fats
  • Heavily processed foods
  • Foods containing large amounts of salt
  • Fatty foods (i.e., whole milk or high-percentage dairy products, fatty meats, etc.)
  • Alcohol
  • Sugary foods or drinks

Eating some of these foods in moderation is fine, as long as the rest of your diet is well-balanced and nutritious. However, consistently basing your diet on foods from these categories can increase your risks of experiencing high cholesterol symptoms.