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Okay, you’ve decided you need to bring down your cholesterol and lose weight by eating more cholesterol free foods. Here’s the main thing you have to remember.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance. It is produced mostly in animals and is not found is foods that come from plants.

So, if you like the idea of eating nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains, you’re probably never going to have to battle a cholesterol problem.

But…

There’s a pretty good chance that’s not to going to work for most people who grew up eating hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries as part of their daily diets.

So does this mean you have to skip foods you’ve enjoyed your entire life – especially foods that are everywhere during the holidays or are always featured at your favorite eateries?

The answer is no.

Popular Cholesterol Free Foods

In real life, not many people have the force of will to completely stop eating high cholesterol foods and start eating only foods that are cholesterol free.

So the smart approach is to combine large portions of cholesterol free foods with other foods you crave but have a high cholesterol content.

Here’s a primer on some of the more common cholesterol free foods and their heart-healthy benefits. Incidentally, cholesterol free foods also help you lose weight in addition to reducing your risk of heart disease.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes – As a group, these foods are free of cholesterol when eaten raw or cooked in ways that don’t add cholesterol to them (for instance, french fries).

Carrots Dietary researchers recently discovered that one raw carrot a day at breakfast could lower total cholesterol by as much as 11 percent

Oat bran Oatmeal is one of the best foods you can eat. It’s not only cholesterol free, but it provides a lot of fiber, which is good for colon health. Besides eating it in cereal form with some fruit, you can also make it into pancakes.

Beans There are dozens of different kinds of beans. Many of them (like garbanzo beans or chick peas) are not only cholesterol free, but are also high in protein..

Olive Oil and Canola Oil These are examples of what some people have started calling “good cholesterol.” There is indeed cholesterol in these oils, but a type of cholesterol that actually cleans out fatty deposits from “bad cholesterol.” Olive oil is a staple as a salad dressing, and many restaurants serve it with bread. Some people have started taking several teaspoons of it a day, straight from the bottle. That’s probably not appetizing to everyone, but it’s an idea to consider.

A Few Closing Thoughts About Cholesterol Free Foods and Weight Loss

Lowering your cholesterol intake and losing weight go hand in hand. One tends to complement the other. But there are important points to remember about certain cholesterol free foods.

Foods like pasta, rice, cereals and breads are generally high in starch. Although they contain little or no cholesterol (depending again on how they’re prepared), they’re high in carbohydrates. As you’re probably aware, “carbs” from such starchy foods will add pounds rather than taking them off.

There are a variety of nuts – especially walnuts and almonds – that are cholesterol-friendly. But you have to be careful because some are high in calories. Check the labels.

One of the best alternatives to substitute for high cholesterol meats and animal-based foods is anything that contains an essential fatty acid  known as omega 3. Fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, and they’re also relatively low in calories.

For more information on related topics, click on low cholesterol diet and cholesterol health.

George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.