When discussing cholesterol, fat always comes into the conversation.  For those with higher cholesterol, it is recommended that they eat a low saturated-fat diet. Low fat diets are often encouraged, even for general health purposes.  However, there are healthy fats that can help lower cholesterol.

To lower your cholesterol, you should reduce your total fat intake.  This is often recommended to reduce the amount of saturated fats you are consuming, which most Americans consume in large quantities.  Saturated fats raise both your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. They are often found in meat fats, such as dairy products like butter, cream, or ice cream.  These fats can also be found on pieces of meat to be cooked and can be removed simply by cutting them off before cooking.

While certain oils like canola oil or olive oil are acceptable for a low cholesterol diet, other oils, such as palm oil or coconut oil, contain high levels of saturated fat.  Cocoa butter, a key component in chocolate, is also high in saturated fats. Often, these oils are found in processed sweets, cookies or cake mixes.  These processed foods are labeled, so you can determine how much saturated fat each serving contains.