Cholesterol has constantly been a source of worry for numerous, and in case you're one of those who are suffering from it and its associated problems, it's best time you worked toward managing it. We all know that cholesterol is with no doubt linked to our diets, but before 1982, this was not the case. A path breaking study in Norway in 1982 made the way for many cholesterol lowering diets and has changed the way the world sees cholesterol.

Why should you lower cholesterol?

There are many benefits to reducing the cholesterol amounts in your body. The number one among them is that reduced cholesterol equals reduced risk of heart disease. When your body produces excessive cholesterol and the liver can't handle it anymore, the cholesterol enters your bloodstream and causes blockages, thus leading to various kinds of heart related ailments.

Low cholesterol generally can help you lead a better quality of life, and when you exercise and quit smoking, you can well be on your way to great health.

Diets for lowering cholesterol

These days, if you want to reduce the levels of cholesterol in your body, you can stick to one of the many diets that are there. These diets can help reduce LDL, the bad cholesterol, enhance HDL, the great cholesterol. There are also a few types of foods that are known to help in lowering cholesterol drastically, and these have been accredited by the AHA (American Heart Association) also.

* Oats are fiber rich, and oatmeal is a good source of disolveable fiber which is noted to get rid of LDL. Other cereal based foods such as whole wheat bread and unpolished rice are also known to be very beneficial.

* When you think Omega 3 fatty acids, you think of fish. Fish lovers can rejoice because fatty fish such as krill, mackerel, sardines, salmon, trout and herring are known to reduce LDL significantly.

* Nuts can also help remarkably in reducing the amounts of LDL in your body. Nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, peanuts and walnuts are known to reduce cholesterol. However, don't go overboard, because nuts are also high in calories.

* There are plenty of studies about how flaxseed can reduce the levels of LDL in your body, so it is worth checking out too.

* Legumes and beans have great fiber content and are high in protein also so they can be substituted for red meat.

* Vegetables and fruits are your best bet too. A diet rich with vegetables and fruits makes sure that HDL is up and LDL is down.

Health ranger Mike Adams says that his choice for the top foods for cholesterol are blueberries (1 pint a day), ginger, garlic, onions and anything with Omega 3 oils such as flax seeds, chia seeds, salmon, krill or oily fish. On the supplement side, he suggests policosino, cod liver oil, macadamia nut oil and medicinal mushrooms like Reishi and Shiitake.

Before you go on a diet to reduce LDL, it's essential to note that your diet should be a balanced one so that you don't go towards any extremes. Further, take many advice from your doctor about which diet would be the best choice for you.