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 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 recommend that you take prescription medications to help get your cholesterol numbers under control as soon as possible. Not doing this could lead to strokes, so consider carefully the medical advice you are given.

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

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 getting less.

This is precisely what you want, a strong heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be four days a week 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 consume foods that are low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be consuming, and what foods should you avoid? It is necessary to avoid an excess of foods from animals, so things like red meats should be consumed 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 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 way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.

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 many more foods that could be mentioned for a diet low in cholesterol, but I am running out of space here. What is important is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, the decision is yours, lower your cholesterol now, or run the risk of heart attacks and strokes in your future.