I remember the day my mother was diagnosed with high cholesterol. She came home with a list of foods that she could not indulge in anymore. The list seemed endless and she wondered if she would have to spend the rest of her days starving. Having a high cholesterol count does not mean that you need to starve; you just need to make smart food choices.

High cholesterol puts you at risk of heart diseases and hence you need to eliminate fats from your diet. Start eating a diet that is devoid of unhealthy fats and you will be well on your way to a healthy lifestyle. For those who start their mornings with an egg, you need not change it. Simply remove the yolk of the egg and start eating only the whites of the eggs. Orange juice, low fat dairy and skim milk are great liquid options. If you are accustomed to drinking tea or coffee then do so without adding sugar as to sweeten it.

Eat foods that are low in salt. Vegetable are a great food option. Watch the amount of potatoes you eat as they are rich in starch. Instead of eating fries you may eat baked or mashed potatoes.

Cook food in low amounts of oil. In order to take care of this you can either cook in olive oil which has many health benefits or start cooking in non stick cookware as it cuts down your oil consumption by more than half.

If you are a fan of fish, then you must watch the amounts you eat. Though they are a rich source of protein they are also high in fats and hence must be consumed sparingly. Tuna is the healthiest option. Substitute red meats with white, so burgers and stakes must either be chicken or turkey. They are low in fats and equally nutritious.

Yogurt helps to balance out your cholesterol levels. Make sure to grab the low fat variety though.