Prefer vegetable oils

In the fight to lower cholesterol levels, instead of just restricting the consumption of traditional heart villains (like saturated fats), you can enlist the help of some good guys. Canola oil and olive oil are good examples of foods that you should include in your diet. According to nutritionist Roberta Stella, the monounsaturated fats present in the two types of vegetable oils help to reduce the levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol. Vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fats, such as soybean, sunflower and corn, increase HDL levels, considered a good cholesterol. The expert's tip, therefore, is, in addition to keeping an eye on the amount of saturated and trans fats, to give preference to foods with a greater amount of mono and polyunsaturated fats.