Should your doctor decide that it is time to check your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the cholesterol numbers to come back. Plan to spend a little discussing these numbers with your doctor, asking about how you can optimize them if that is in fact needed, and ask what your risk is for heart disease.

If your cholesterol numbers are not acceptable, your doctor may advise that you take prescription medications to help get your cholesterol levels under control as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to strokes, 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 foods of high cholesterol on a regular basis.

Once you are aware of the foods that are good and bad for you, then switching to low cholesterol foods should be no difficulty, especially since you know that once you have changed, your heart health is going to be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be decreasing.

This is exactly what you want, a strong 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 overall health.

So, if you are to eat low cholesterol foods , what does that mean you will be consuming, and what foods should you not eat? It is necessary to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be consumed in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also high in 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 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 a good food to eat, and is also a great breakfast food. It provides you with soluble fibre, which is also found in barley, pears and apples.

Legumes, such as 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 muscles and tendons, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

There are obviously a lot more foods that could be mentioned for a diet of low cholesterol, but there is limited 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, the choice is yours, lower your cholesterol now, or have the threat of heart attacks and strokes in your future.