High cholesterol

Living well with high cholesterol

Small changes to what you eat and how active you are can lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.

Written by Neil Hyde Last checked 1 minute read

On this page
  1. Food swaps
  2. Reading food labels
  3. Get moving
  4. Keep up with checks
  5. Support

Food swaps

  • swap butter and lard for olive, rapeseed or sunflower oil and spreads
  • choose lean meat, and eat more fish, beans and lentils
  • have oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, once a week
  • eat oats, barley, nuts and soya, which can help lower cholesterol
  • have fewer cakes, biscuits, pastries and processed meats

Reading food labels

Look for foods that are green or amber for saturated fat on the front of the pack.

Get moving

Any activity helps. Walking, cycling, swimming and dancing all count.

Keep up with checks

Have your cholesterol, blood pressure and weight checked as your GP advises. Keep taking your statin unless your GP says otherwise.

Support

HEART UK runs a free cholesterol helpline, and the British Heart Foundation has recipes and information.

Sources we used

We check this page at least once a year, and sooner when the rules change. Read how we check our facts, or tell us if something looks wrong.