Any and probably all plant fibres can lower cholesterol, which means eating a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Oat bran has received much publicity as being beneficial in  reducing levels of cholesterol and indeed it does, but barley which doesn't receive much press is even better. The active component is beta-glucans, and barley has three times more of this than oat bran.

Wholemeal breads, breakfast cereals, porridge oats
Carrots, and other  foods containing pectin; apples, gooseberries, and the white inner layers from citrus fruits are good sources.
Artichokes
Beans,  contain lecithin which helps cut cholesterol: lentils, kidney beans, Soya products
Garlic, Onions, Ginger & Fenugreek, various trials have been carried out on all these foods with good results in lowering cholesterol levels.
Monounsaturated oils - Safflower oil  & olive oil / monounsaturated spreads,  for cooking and dressings.
Foods containing high levels of phytosterols, because they are absorbed into the blood stream flushing out some of the cholesterol. All plants contain phytosterols, but some have much higher levels than others.
In descending order:
sesame seeds, lettuce, sunflower seeds, hazel nuts, cucumbers, asparagus, okra,
cauliflower, spinach, figs, onions, strawberries, pumpkin, squash, radishes, apricots, tomatoes,  celery, ginger.
Shiitake mushrooms, contain lentinan, which acts on cholesterol, is also anti-tumor,
Anti-viral, and a immune stimulant.
Fish including tinned tuna (in water)
Tea, green or black (without milk)

NOTE:
The amount of active or main ingredient in a standardised herbal product is often expressed as a %
e.g. Milk thistle standardised 80% silymarin (the active ingredient in milk thistle)  means that  80% of the extract contains that ingredient, the other 20% being fillers, binders or other substances. So, 150mg dose of milk thistle that is standardised to 80% silymarin contains 120mg of silymarin (150 X 0.08 = 120)

Recommended supplements
Vitamin E
Dose:      250 mg twice a day
Caution:  consult your doctor in taking anticoagulants
Vitamin C
Dose:       500 mg twice a day
Advice:    reduce dose if diarrhoea occurs
Garlic
Dose:       400 - 600 mg of dried concentrate daily
Advice:    tablets should be enteric coated and provide 4000 mcg of allicin
Chromium
Dose:        200 mcg once a day
Caution:    use easily absorbed forms such as GTF chromium or chromium picolinate
Beta-sitosterol
Dose:        300 mg twice a day
Caution:    long term use may be required
Artichoke
Dose:        500 mg extract three times daily
Advice:     standardised to contain 15% cynarin

The information contained in these pages is intended only as a layman’s guide.
It is not intended for use in place of conventional medicines but only as a back up.
I strongly recommend that you discuss it with your G.P. before starting any course of supplements or alterative therapy

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