Here are some foods you can eat to lower or better control your cholesterol levels:

Fruits and vegetables.   All animal foods have cholesterol, but plant foods do not. Their fiber and nutrients help to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Many (including apples, berries, carrots and prunes) are rich in soluble fiber. Flavoproteins and phytonutrients (meaning "plant chemicals") are in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, too, and help maintain healthy blood vessels. Polyphenols are natural plant antioxidants and protect the body against free radicals, which cause aging and result in a host of detrimental effects in the cardiovascular system and the brain.

Fish.  Fish, particularly salmon, is a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Eating fish twice weekly, especially if substituted for other meats, can reduce blood clotting and inflammation of the arteries.

Flaxseed.  Flaxseeds are great sources of fiber, too, and contain omega-3s and phytochemicals called lignins. Last year, Science Daily reported on a study from Iowa State University's Nutrition and Wellness Research Center, which concluded that men with high cholesterol who consumed three tablespoons of flaxseed lignins per day decreased their cholesterol levels.

Nuts.  Eating a daily handful of almonds or walnuts helps to lower LDL cholesterol. They even are marketed now in small packages to keep them fresh. The University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter says: "The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in nuts help lower cholesterol, especially when substituted for sources of saturated fat, such as meat or cheese. Moreover, certain phytochemicals in nuts, such as sterols, may inhibit cholesterol absorption. Studies have found that eating 2 to 4 ounces of nuts a day has a significant effect; one found that a mere 8 to 11 walnuts a day reduced cholesterol levels by 4 percent. But remember, nuts are calorie-dense."

Beans.  All types – black, kidney, lima, etc. Again, the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter notes that studies show that eating as little as 4 ounces daily can lower LDL cholesterol significantly.

Oats/oatmeal.  Oats contain soluble fiber, which reduces bad cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic reports: "Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your total and LDL cholesterol. Eating 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides 6 grams of fiber. If you add fruit, such as bananas, you'll add about 4 more grams of fiber."

Dark chocolate.  Though cocoa is no earth-shattering cholesterol reducer, if you're going to choose a dessert, choose dark chocolate. The California Academy of Sciences reported that dark chocolate has high levels of stearic acid, which does not raise bad cholesterol, and oleic acid, which may raise good cholesterol levels.

Everyone that eats restaurant foods, fast foods, and “chemicalized” foods should have their cholesterol levels checked at least once per year.  For those with high cholesterol levels, cholesterol intake should be no more than 200 milligrams daily. People with normal cholesterol levels should limit cholesterol intake to no more than 300 milligrams daily.