Cholesterol-Lowering Shopping Tips

Lowering your cholesterol means limiting the grams of fat you eat (particularly saturated and trans fat), cutting back on protein foods like meat and dairy, and cutting cholesterol consumption by eating more complex carbs. Here's Heart & Soul's shopping list for your next trip to the store:

Fresh fruit and veggies. Oranges, apples, pears, grapes, bell peppers, broccoli tomatoes, dark leafy greens, kale, celery, zucchini, squash

Poultry and fish. Boneless and skinless chicken breasts and tenders, ground chicken or turkey, salmon, tuna, tilapia, trout

Limited dairy. Skim or 1 percent milk, nonfat or 1 percent fat yogurt (plain or with fruit), soy-based cheeses or yogurts, egg substitutes or egg whites

Nuts.  Walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds

Salt replacements. Onion powder, cloves, paprika, bay leaves, basil, oregano

Snacks. Brown rice cakes, whole grain pretzels, plain or light microwave popcorn

Beans, grains, complex carbs. Lentils, kidney, pinto, black beans, brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, whole-grain breads

-Kennedy Spencer