In general, fruits and vegetables are fantastic foods to choose to lower your cholesterol. They have the added benefit of being low in saturated fat. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, carbohydrates as well as phytochemicals, those that result from plant metabolic processes, fruits and veggies also reduce your risk for developing certain cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and more.

The goal is to try and eat at least nine servings of fruit and vegetables per day. That’s about 4 ½ cups of the good stuff. Potatoes – yes, that means French fries and chips – don’t count. Your best options have the brightest and deepest, richest colors. For example, Leafy greens are wonderful choices. They should a permanent space on your plate.

Leafy greens include items such as Swiss chard, lettuce, kale, spinach and kale. Then, there are cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, bok choy (aka Chinese Cabbage) and mustard greens. Finally, there are citrus fruits. Oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines and grapefruits are fantastic cholesterol reducers perhaps due to the flavonoids in their peels as a 2004 study suggested.

Other fruits and vegetables that would be great to try include (but are not limited to):

• Apples,
• Pears,
• Nectarines,
• Apricots,
• Peaches,
• Plums,
• Bananas,
• Mangoes
• Watermelons,
• Canteloupes,
• Honeydew Melons,
• Kiwis,
• Strawberries,
• Passionfruit,
• Raspberries,
• Blueberries,
• Açai,
• Avocado,
• Silver beet,
• Cabbage,
• Pumpkin,
• Cucumber,
• Zucchini,
• Asparagus,
• Celery,
• Onion, etc.

Here 7 tips to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day:

1. Keep a bowl of fruit handy both at home and at work.
2. Include vegetables in your lunch, dinner and snacks.
3. Buy fresh fruits that are in season. They are less expensive.
4. Opt for a salad instead of fries when eating fast food.
5. Turn that baked potato into a main meal. Top it with melted cheese, broccoli, beans, carrots, salsa and so forth.
6. Enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie from the blender. Grapes, guava, mango and strawberries are all great choices. Add ice and you’ve got a fantastic treat.
7. Eat a vegetarian pizza. Include eggplant, squash, tomato slices, sweet peppers, olives, etc.

For some lovely vegetarian recipes, we suggest you check out this website.