There are many foods that helps to lower cholesterol levels. You can start by increasing your intake of vegetables and fruits everyday. Next cut back on red meat and replace it with white lean meat.
Increase the fiber content in your diet. Non-processed oatmeal is an excellent choice that is high in fiber. Switch to whole grains. Select whole grain breads, crackers, bagels, muffins, waffles, pancakes.
Eat more beans (legumes) either as a soup, with your salad, as a dip or even as a snack. Try bean soup, cold bean salad, in sandwiches, black bean dip or as a snack.
This may be difficult because of the after taste but you should consider more garlic in your meals. Studies show that they contain compounds help lower your liver's production of cholesterol.
Increase your intake of monounsaturated fat - e.g. Olive oil, almonds, walnuts and avocados - which helps to improve cholesterol levels. However please note that these nuts are high in calories and although you should take them regularly but please od so in moderation.
Research shows that eating fatty fish has cholesterol-lowering benefits. Fatty fish contain a high level of omega-3 fatty acids that helps the heart but reducing blood pressure and the risk of blood clots.
You should eat two or more servings of fish a week. Mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids. If you don't like fish, you can also get omega-3 fatty acids from foods like ground flaxseed or canola oil.
Or you can take an omega-3 or fish oil supplement to get some of the beneficial effects. If you decide to take a supplement, eat lean meat or vegetables in its place.
Consider adding olive oil as it contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol without affecting your "good" (HDL) cholesterol. To add olive oil to your diet, you can saute vegetables in it, add it to a marinade, or mix it with vinegar as a salad dressing. You can also use olive oil as a substitute for butter when cooking meat.