Eat more soluble fiber (oats, barley, beans, lentils, apples, citrus, psyllium)
Choose whole grains instead of refined grains
Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish)
Limit saturated fats (fatty cuts of meat, butter, cheese, coconut oil, palm oil)
Avoid trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils)
Eat fatty fish 2 times per week (salmon, sardines, mackerel) or consider omega-3 sources
Increase plant sterols/stanols (fortified foods, supplements if appropriate)
Choose lean proteins (fish, skinless poultry, legumes, tofu) more often than processed meats
Reduce intake of processed and high-sodium foods
Limit added sugars and refined carbohydrates
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise regularly (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate activity or equivalent)
Avoid smoking
Limit alcohol (if you drink, keep it moderate)
Manage blood sugar and blood pressure if you have diabetes or hypertension
Get cholesterol levels rechecked as recommended by a clinician
Take cholesterol-lowering medications if prescribed (statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, as appropriate)
Discuss secondary causes with a clinician (hypothyroidism, kidney disease, certain medications, genetic conditions)