We know that cholesterol is bad for us. But it is also true that all the cholesterol required by us is produced by our own body, so we do not have to consume any cholesterol rich food. This is how we end up with high cholesterol levels. Knowing the high cholesterol foods will help us then.

Being a vegetarian lowers your chances of high cholesterol. Meat eaters get most of their bad cholesterol from the animal products in the form of saturated fat. Trans fats and saturated fats are the bad cholesterol and these can be reduced by consuming food rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat.

Food rich in the bad fat are everywhere and we know that the pastry you have in hand or the chocolate you had for snack is bad. This also includes greasy take always, processed meats and full fat dairy products.

Did you know that seafood such as crab, shrimp and sardines contain high cholesterol which should be avoided. Same goes with veal, egg yolks, turkey, coconut oil, palm oil, brain, goose, duck and liver.

We may be indulging in dim sims, minced meat, butter and coconut cream. Stay away from food high in saturated fat. Pay more attention to saturated fats rather than cholesterol content as they make your liver produce more cholesterol than required.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the cholesterol in the food around us. The recommended dietary intake of cholesterol is 300mg per day and reduces to 200mg if you suffer from high LDL levels.

So where is the good cholesterol. They are also found all around you in fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. If you cannot stay away from meat, substitute with fish which is rich in polyunsaturated fat.

So where is the healthy stuff? In soybean products, tofu, kidney beans, dried peas, garlic, spinach, tuna in water and fat free milk. Check the saturated and trans fat content on the packaging rather than the total fat content.

Try and snack on plain nuts such as peanuts, cashews, brazilnuts and hazelnuts. Order wholegrain bread at the cafe and buy lean meat at the supermarket. Take the first step and stop your arteries from clogging.

Try and watch to include nuts, legumes and cereals in your diet. Eat more of rice, peas and switch to the good old olive oil for your cooking. Of course maintain your weight and live an active life.

Resource Box: More on How to Reduce Cholesterol without Drugs? and Normal Cholesterol Levels