Cholesterol is made by the liver, and it is distributed throughout the body through the blood stream. When more cholesterol is produced than the body can use, deposits can form along the arterial walls. This accumulation leads to cardiovascular disease.

When you review cholesterol lowering diets, you need to keep in mind your body's need for some cholesterol. Even though cholesterol is not healthy, it does help with some necessary functions in the body. The key to maintaining a good diet is moderation of bad cholesterol and some consumption of good cholesterol.

The American Hearth Association - in 2002 - recommended eating not less than two servings of fish a week. The reason is that fish is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and proteines. Omega 3 fatty acids are known to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol, and increase HDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been shown to lower the triglyceride levels. Fish is an essential part in any diet plan to lower high cholesterol.

It is known that Oatmeal and oat bran are rich sources of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that lowers the bad Low Density Lipoprotein, known as the bad Low Density Lipoprotein or the LDL cholesterol, without lowering the good High Density Lipoprotein, or the HDL cholesterol. It's been assumed that one can decrease LDL cholesterol by up to 5 percent by taking five to ten grams of soluble fiber a day. This makes oatmeal and oat bran vital in any diet plan to lower high cholesterol

Nuts house a multitude of beneficial substances that aid in the processes of the body: antioxidants (Vitamin E, selenium), phytonutrients, fiber, plant sterols and fat. It should be noted that the fats are mostly mono- and polyunsaturated fats which have studies have shown reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol.

The FDA in 1999 found that soy provided great benefit to the health of the heart in reviews of healthy heart diets and reduced cholesterol in trials. Now however, the AHA Nutrition Committee does not recommend soy as a means to lower cholesterol, after debate over the previously perceived benefits. Although soy is perhaps not affective in every diet plan to lower high cholesterol, it is still said that it is capable of producing a 3 percent drop in bad LDL cholesterol.

The absorption of cholesterol by the body can be blocked by sterols found in plants. LDL cholesterol levels can be reduced by 10 to 15 percent by a diet that contains two servings a day of sterol-fortified foods. A diet containing 2 grams of plant sterols a day is recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program for people with high cholesterol.

Plant sterols can be found in sterol-fortified foods such as salad dressings, orange juice, and margarine spread. They normally have at least a gram of plant steols per serving, but you should always read the labels for precise details on portion size and usage direction. Also, plant sterols are only recommended for people with high levels of LDL cholesterol, so they may not be right for you.