Did you know that there are three main types of fat in food – saturates, monounsaturates and polyunsaturates and that they are not all bad for you.  Foods high in saturates such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, lard, cream, cheese and many processed and takeaway foods, increase cholesterol in your blood so it is very important to eat less of them.  However, polyunsaturates and monounsaturates can help lower cholesterol, so it’s sensible to swap foods high in saturates for more foods rich in unsaturated fats.

Pure vegetable oils and spreads such as sunflower, corn, grapeseed and soya oils are all good sources of polyunsaturates, while olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds are all good sources of monounsaturates.

If you have been diagnosed with a high cholesterol level you may be required to make a number of changes, including modifying your diet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Cooking for a low cholesterol diet is not difficult, but you will have to use some different techniques and food choices to keep your heart healthy.  Baking, grilling, even microwaving will help control the amount of saturated fat in your food. Here are my top 5 tips: