7 Foods to Lower Cholesterol and Protect Your Heart

Ever give your cholesterol much thought? You might want to. For some people, keeping it at heart-healthy levels takes more than regular exercise or curbing intakes of saturated and trans fats (think French fries, burgers and packaged cookies). It takes eating foods that will help prevent cholesterol from creeping up in the first place—or will dial it down if it's already inched up too high. That doesn't mean you have to eat a bland, boring diet. Au contraire. Here are seven scrumptious, cholesterol-friendly foods your heart and palate will both love.