Focus on Good Fats

Peanut butter, nuts, olive oil, and fats found in fish, avocados, and plant foods don’t raise blood cholesterol levels and in some cases even help to lower them. The hitch: some of these good fats are high calorie, so eat them in moderation. What to limit or avoid? Artery-clogging saturated fats (red meat, butter) and trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils). Oh, and keep in mind that it’s healthier to replace those harmful saturated fats with small amounts of good fats rather than with carbs.

One more thing: Missing butter? Try cholesterol-lowering spreads like Benecol® or Take Control® that block the body’s absorption of cholesterol.