Perhaps ages ago finding food in the wild was a difficult and time-consuming task. At that time 'hunting and gathering' was markedly different to what it is today. For most of us in the developed world it simply means a trip to the supermarket where food is incredibly abundant. However the lifestyle and dietary habits of many people today result in a need to find particular foods which lower cholesterol.

This need not result in becoming vegetarian or having to eat boring meals that are not tasty and delicious. So what are some of the sumptuous low cholesterol foods that we could enjoy?

Well let's start with fish. Varieties of fish such as salmon, tuna, lake trout, herring and mackerel, contain very healthy types of oils that actually lower cholesterol and are delicious. The oils in these and other fish are considered very healthy due to their levels of essential fatty acids, principally Omega-3. Fish can ideally be consumed 3-4 times a week, preferably grilled, poached or broiled rather than sautéed or deep-fried with extra fats.

Whole grains are another food variety to consider. The non-refined whole grain products contain complex carbohydrates and come from natural plant sources. Avoid the processed grain foods as the preparation removes much of the nutritional goodness from the food. In fact these whole foods are very tasty when compared to their refined counterparts. They also contain much more fiber which is beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels.

Research has indicated that consuming high amounts of foods containing the simple carbohydrates can elevate cholesterol levels and increase your risk of heart disease. These include all the sugars and the refined products such as white flour, and white rice.

Some really sumptuous foods are found in the wide range of fruits and vegetables available to us. It is a good habit to always eat plenty of fruits and vegetables--they are low in calories and fat. They are also very high in nutritional and fiber content, and should be a major part of any healthy diet. For maintaining and lowering cholesterol levels they are also essential.

So as you can see already, there are many delicious and sumptuous foods that will not raise your cholesterol levels. We actually have many choices available.

Dairy products are consumed in great quantities in developed countries today. As these products are high in cholesterol my recommendation is to exclude them altogether from the diet if you wish to lower your cholesterol. If you must consume dairy products, then common sense would be to use low-fat or skim dairy products instead of regular, full-fat varieties.

You'll find that foods which help to lower cholesterol not only decrease your risk for heart disease, but are good for weight management as well! Main reason for that is that it is the foods high in saturated fats that both increase cholesterol and increase weight gain. So with the right choices you can enjoy your food, lower your cholesterol, and at the same time lose weight.

If animal products have been a major part of your diet for a long time you don't need to become vegetarian. But if you are serious about reducing your cholesterol levels you should consume more of the leaner meats, such as chicken or turkey instead of red meat.

Reading food labels will provide a wealth of information for you too. Apart from fat and cholesterol content, excess sodium (salt) is quite often linked closely to high cholesterol and heart disease. And it is certainly directly related to high blood pressure. So you might want to develop the habit of reading food labels when shopping.

With just a little knowledge about foods and your body you can make wise and smart choices, and start to enjoy the many sumptuous foods which lower cholesterol.