n May 2010 I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. By August 2010 it was coming down and by March 2012 it was staying down at a level considered safe by my doctor, and all without the use of statins.

I couldn't find much advice available, especially on particular foods to avoid or choose, so once my diet plan had worked, I wrote it all down to help other people.

From HEART UK’s dietician, Linda Main: “Liz provides some practical common-sense ideas and advice which she has tried and tested to lower and maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Her results demonstrate how a healthy balanced diet, low in saturated fat and high in wholegrain, fruits and vegetables and containing some cholesterol busting foods such as oats and nuts can be a central part of achieving this.”

I would like to save you from bursting into tears in Tescos when you find that dark chocolate DOES have fat in it ... and to help a few more people navigate the possibilities of controlling cholesterol levels naturally and keeping off the pills.

So in this booklet, I’m going to:
• Explain the medical bits and show you where you can find more information
• Talk about my “rules” and how they are applied in practice
• Tell you about some things you’ll be surprised you can eat, and some you’ll be surprised you can’t
• Have a quick word about places you can eat out without undermining your diet
• Go through some exercise tips

Note: new edition with an extra recipe, more recommendations for eating out, and US as well as UK measurements for cholesterol levels.

Note: I am not a doctor. Show your doctor this book and let them know what you're planning to do.