When your doctor decides 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 be reported. You would do well to spend a few minutes discussing these results with your doctor, covering how you can optimize 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 medications to help get your cholesterol numbers under control as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to strokes, so consider carefully the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are acceptable, your doctor may just suggest that you improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and hardly contains high cholesterol foods regularly.

Once you are aware of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to good foods should not be a problem, 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 getting less.

This is precisely what you want, a strong heart. But along with the low cholesterol diet, you should also 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 low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be consuming, and what foods should you avoid? It is good to avoid an excess of foods from animals, so things like 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 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 called that just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

Oat bran and oatmeal 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 muscles and tendons, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

Naturally, there are a lot more foods that contribute to a diet low in cholesterol, 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 attacks 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.