When preparing a menu for high cholesterol, it is important to adhere to the following guidelines: avoid processed foods full of fats, sugars, and preservatives, and instead, focus on fresh fruits and vegetables as well as healthy fats. Excessive consumption of fatty, fried foods and sugars contributes to increased blood fat levels. However, an unbalanced diet is not the only issue. Insufficient physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption also contribute to poor overall health. Therefore, when dealing with high cholesterol, the first step is to reduce dietary intake and make lifestyle changes. If you have decided to adjust your current diet to naturally lower cholesterol, the Mediterranean diet is an excellent choice. It is based on fresh seasonal ingredients, plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, and olive oil. Below, we provide recipes for regulating high cholesterol, along with a high-cholesterol menu that can serve as inspiration for preparing meals to lower cholesterol.
Our grandmothers had natural recipes for everything, including lowering high cholesterol. Below are some of the most popular recipes that, combined with a healthy diet and moderate physical activity, can help lower high cholesterol and act as natural remedies for cholesterol.
The celery and lemon drink is one of the most commonly recommended recipes for those who want to lower cholesterol naturally. In addition to reducing harmful cholesterol levels, it also helps alleviate digestive issues due to its mild stimulating effect on metabolism.
Take four medium-sized celery roots and six large lemons. Choose organic lemons without pesticides, as you will need to use them with the peel. Wash the lemons and cut them into cubes. Peel the celery thoroughly and then grate it. Mix the lemon and celery and pour them with one liter of water. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours, then strain the drink through cheesecloth. Pripremljeni napitak pohranite u hladnjak, te pijte 1,5 do 2 dcl prije svakog obroka.
Beetroot and lemon have been used in alternative medicine for years due to their exceptional healing properties. Beetroot is commonly used for treating anemia and high blood pressure, while lemon is valued for its vitamin C content. The combination of these two ingredients creates an ideal mix for combating blood fat levels. 
Peel and chop an organic beetroot root, then place it in a juicer along with five peeled lemons. Pour the resulting juice into a clean bottle and store it in the refrigerator. Shake the juice well before use to ensure all ingredients are combined. Drink 100 ml of beetroot and lemon juice before each meal, both in the morning and evening. After consuming 1.5 liters of the juice, it is recommended to repeat blood tests and check cholesterol levels again. Usually, one course of this juice is sufficient to balance cholesterol levels.
Spicy and aromatic herbs in the form of teas can also help regulate blood fat levels.
The best teas for this purpose include mint, nettle, sage, blackberry, yarrow, and green tea. You can either combine them or drink them individually. Consume one to two cups of tea daily along with your usual diet and daily activities.
A menu for high cholesterol should be entirely focused on reducing blood fats. Ideally, it should consist of no more than 26% fats and 11% proteins. You can enhance it with olive oil (no more than two tablespoons daily).
For breakfast, choose whole grain cereals with low-fat milk or a plant-based drink such as oat, rice, or almond milk. Avoid cereal mixes with fruit, chocolate, or other additives, as these often contain high amounts of added sugar. Enrich unsweetened cereals with fresh fruit as desired. Try to avoid sweet fruits like bananas and grapes, tropical fruits, and dried fruits, which contain high amounts of naturally occurring sugars. 
You can add flaxseeds or chia seeds to the cereals and season everything with Ceylon cinnamon. If you prefer, you can also enjoy freshly squeezed juice with your cereals. If you prefer a savory breakfast, make an egg white omelet with leafy greens and fresh avocado, and pair it with a slice of whole grain bread. Seasonal salads with mâche, arugula, various types of green lettuces, baby spinach, and similar ingredients are also a good choice. You don’t have to give up all types of cheese. Mozzarella combined with olives and lean cooked ham will certainly satisfy your need for a more substantial meal, especially if you enjoy savory dishes.
There is a wide range of foods you can consume for lunch without worrying about high cholesterol. A great choice is red rice, which contains monacolin K that can help reduce cholesterol levels. Pair it with tomatoes or zucchini. When it comes to salads, almost anything goes! Experiment with flavors and prepare a salad with Brussels sprouts, cooked broccoli or steamed cauliflower, seasoned with a little salt, garlic, and olive oil. Endive, radicchio, arugula, carrots, and tomatoes are also good options. Eat them individually or as healthy mixes. Additionally, boiled beets seasoned with olive oil will provide you with essential vitamins, minerals, and necessary iron. In addition to rice, quinoa, buckwheat, or amaranth are excellent choices. These provide a wealth of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, and will ensure you get enough protein on days when you don’t eat meat. Occasionally, you can also enjoy whole-grain pasta, which can be combined with soy flakes, lentils, or ground turkey. 
From meats, white fish, salmon rich in healthy fats, and chicken and turkey are allowed. Turkey or chicken steaks can be prepared in the oven with minimal fat or on a grill pan for a lean meal. Boiled fish or chicken is definitely the best choice, and you can follow it with a fat-free soup with plenty of cooked root vegetables like carrots, parsley root, parsnips, kohlrabi, and celery. Grilled vegetables—such as peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, or mushrooms—pair excellently with meat and fish dishes. Choose what suits you best and adjust it to your daily meals. If you can’t imagine a meal without bread, opt for a slice of whole-grain bread. You can enhance your meals with natural herbs such as rosemary, bay leaf, basil, or coriander. Your body will thank you, as these herbs are packed with antioxidants and beneficial compounds.
For dinner, fish is an excellent choice—whether it’s white fish or fatty fish like salmon or tuna. It is recommended to adjust your high-cholesterol diet by preparing foods steamed or boiled. Serve it with steamed vegetables or various salads. Swiss chard with potatoes, mashed vegetables, rice, and occasionally pasta are great options. Pasta with salmon or tuna, or tuna with beans, will satisfy even the most demanding palates. For a light dinner, you can have a fat-free chicken broth, cooking the meat with a handful of rice and root vegetables. If you enjoy spoon dishes, warmer days are perfect for stews. Stews are full of nutrients when prepared with a mix of different vegetables and legumes. Kale, leeks, lentils, barley, quinoa, cabbage—it’s up to you! Stew can also be enjoyed for lunch—when made from various types of vegetables and without a roux, it is healthy, filling, and packed with nutrients. Different types of green salad are a popular choice for evening meals. They are low in calories and nutritious. Add tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, and a handful of cooked rice or quinoa. If desired, add tofu, cooked chicken, or various seeds—pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower.
With a balanced diet, proven cholesterol-lowering recipes, and our high-cholesterol menu, you are sure to succeed in lowering your LDL cholesterol levels.
Foto: Alex Lvrs, Alina Karpenko (Unsplash), Pixabay
