Best cooking fats for healthy cholesterol levels

Are you trying to remember which fat is the good fat to use in the kitchen?

LDL is low-density lipoprotein. That’s the bad cholesterol. The opposite is high-density lipoprotein.

“HDL is considered a good cholesterol because it’s measuring the amount of cholesterol that is removed from your arteries back to the liver,” says Dr. Regis Fernandes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist.

You’ll find these good fats in olive oil, avocado oil, and soybean and vegetable oil.

Try these tips to reduce unhealthy fats in your diet

• Use oil instead of butter. For example, saute with olive oil instead of butter, and use canola oil when baking.

• Eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, instead of meat at least twice a week.

• Choose lean meat and skinless poultry. Trim visible fat from meat. Remove fat and skin from poultry.

• Limit processed foods, which often contain saturated fat. Instead reach for whole fruits and vegetables when you’re hungry.