Low Cholesterol Shopping List (2024)

This low cholesterol shopping list will help keep your cholesterol levels in check.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance naturally found in all of our body’s cells. Too much of it, however, can clog our arteries and contribute to a host of problems, including heart disease and heart attack. Our body makes cholesterol on its own, but we also take it in via the foods we eat. Cholesterol is found in foods from animal sources, including meat and dairy. Our low cholesterol shopping list will help you stick to foods that will lower your cholesterol instead of raise it.

High-cholesterol foods have a high amount of saturated and trans fats, including red meat, butter, and cheese. Foods that list “partially hydrogenated oil” as an ingredient are also high in cholesterol and trans fats and should be avoided. Low-cholesterol foods are rich in fiber and the “good” kind of fats –monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that help our bodies function at their best.

Low Cholesterol Shopping List

Whether you’re looking to actively lower your cholesterol or just practice prevention, our low cholesterol shopping list below is your roadmap to dietary success. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, it’s important to see a doctor regularly, as diet alone may not be enough to keep your cholesterol levels in check.

Lean Protein

Every meal you eat should include a lean protein. Not only will this help with fat loss and muscle tone, but also help keep you fuller for longer.

Fish

Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, herring, tuna, sardines, and mackerel, contain Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can help raise your HDL, which is your good cholesterol. Try one or all of these yummy, heart-healthy recipes:

Salmon Avocado Bites
Salmon in Cardamom Sauce
Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

Ground Turkey

Turkey is not only loaded with protein, but it’s also extremely low in saturated fat. It contains a nutrient called Taurine, which has been found to decrease the overall risk of heart disease. Another benefit to ground turkey is that it is packaged with a nutritional label, allowing you to see the specific saturated fat content.

Try our tasty Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet.

Egg Whites

If your goal is to improve your cholesterol levels, you’ll want to ditch the yolk. With that being said, egg whites contain almost no saturated fat and are a great source of protein, which is why we’re including them on our low cholesterol shopping list.

This Mediterranean Egg White Frittata is loaded with clean ingredients that are good for your health!

Tofu, Tempeh, & Seitan

If you’re craving a more hearty dish, you might want to consider using one of these heart-healthy, protein alternatives. Foods like tofu, tempeh, and seitan can go a long way to improving your cholesterol. Whether you’re a hardcore tofu lover or someone that has never considered it before, you’re in for a treat with these delicious recipes!

Whole Grains

Whole grains will provide you with energy and are great for digestion! Try including different types of whole grains with every meal of the day.

Oats

Oats can work wonders on your body’s LDL levels—that’s the bad kind of cholesterol. Start the day with a bowl of oatmeal, like our Slow Cooker Creamy Almond Oatmeal.

Barley

This increasingly-popular grain can significantly decrease bad cholesterol due to its high soluble fiber content. Try these scrumptious, barley-rich dishes:

Barley Salad with Asparagus and Roasted Tomatoes

Bulgur

Bulgur is another grain that excels when it comes to improving cholesterol. This high-fiber ingredient blocks the absorption of cholesterol, decreasing LDL levels.

Try this recipe that combines several heart-healthy foods: Herbed Salmon with Broccoli Bulgur Pilaf

Quinoa

We all love Quinoa! I mean, how could you not? It’s low in carbohydrates, contains a considerable amount of protein, and is loaded with fiber, helping to improve cholesterol!

Try our Quinoa Apple Breakfast Bowl on the next chilly morning!

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a staple in the “diet” world, but that doesn’t mean it always has to be bland! As you will see in the recipe below, there are ways to make this high-fiber food, extremely enjoyable.

Try this Creamy Brown Rice, Apple, and Broccoli Salad for lunch!

Produce

Fresh fruits and veggies are an important part of any well-rounded diet. Try to include various colored produce in your meals throughout the day to get more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Fibrous Fruits

Fruits like apples, pears, whole citrus, and bananas contain a high amount of soluble fiber, which is great for cleaning sticky bad cholesterol out of your system. Top your oatmeal with a serving of sliced bananas for a one-two punch to fight cholesterol. You may also enjoy:

Spinach

In addition to its well-known nutritious properties, spinach contains the secret ingredient Lutein, which helps artery walls ward off cholesterol. Enjoy fresh spinach in:

Spinach and Bean Burrito Wrap
Roasted Pear Sandwich with Baby Spinach
Artichoke and Spinach Penne Casserole

Avocados

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which lower LDL and raise HDL—the perfect cholesterol-friendly combination.

Try starting your day with our Avocado Breakfast Toast made with a hearty oat bread.

Later on, enjoy an Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich for lunch.

Garlic

This potent allium not only adds flavor to a dish, it also helps lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. It works by preventing tiny cholesterol particles from sticking to the walls of your arteries. You’ll love our:

Sticky Garlic Chicken
One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Lemon and Garlic Sweet Potato Salad

Legumes

Beans

Black, kidney, and pinto beans are packed with fiber, which has been shown to help lower your overall cholesterol absorption.

Try our Skinny Quinoa with Black Beans for a powerful mix of two superfoods in one or try this Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Chipotle Aioli.

Chickpeas

Recent studies have found that this legume is highly-effective at lowering cholesterol levels. This is widely due to the fact that chickpeas are high in heart-healthy protein, phytosterols, and soluble fiber.

If you’re looking for a cholesterol-friendly snack, try these Roasted Chickpeas.

Lentils

This is another legume with promising cholesterol-lowering abilities. Much like beans and chickpeas, lentils are high in protein as well as soluble fiber. Replacing meat with any of these legumes can significantly impact cholesterol levels in a positive way.

Try our protein-rich Easy Vegetarian Quinoa Chili with Lentils. It contains just 1 gram of saturated fat per serving!

Nuts, Seeds, & Oils

These are loaded with essential healthy fats and will keep you feeling full and energized for hours!

Nuts

This food can help you lower your cholesterol naturally; walnuts, cashews, and almonds are the best kind. Just be sure to practice portion control since nuts are also high in calories per serving.

Try our yummy Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters, which combine two of the low-cholesterol foods on this list.

Seeds

Various seeds, including flax, hemp, sunflower, and chia seeds, have been found to reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Get your daily fiber and Omega-3’s from these yummy morsels!

Make this Blueberry, Mint, and Flax Seed Smoothie the next time you need an on-the-go breakfast!

Olive Oil

This heart-healthy fat is a staple in many of our SkinnyMs. recipes, and lucky for those watching their cholesterol, it also helps lower LDL levels. Besides being good for you, check out these 50 Other Uses for Olive Oil.

Other Cholesterol-Lowering Options

Dark Chocolate

Mmmm, that’s sweet news! Dark, bittersweet chocolate helps boost your body’s HDL. Feeling like something creamy and decadent? Try:

Chocolate Banana Bread with Hot Fudge Sauce
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter and Banana Pops
Cherry Chocolate Trifle

Red Wine

No, this isn’t a cruel joke. Red wine can increase HDL levels and, due to its polyphenol antioxidants, decrease LDL! As with anything else, it should be consumed in moderation, but even it has a place on our low cholesterol shopping list.

Download the Complete Low Cholesterol Shopping List here:

Do you already eat a lot of these low-cholesterol foods? Are there any you’re going to begin incorporating into your diet? Let us know what your low cholesterol shopping list looks like in the comment section below!

You might also find these shopping lists helpful:

The Ultimate Clean Eating Grocery List- 50 Foods
Budget Weight Loss Shopping List

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