Our liver produces cholesterol. You can also find cholesterol in foods like meat and dairy. So if we intake too much dietary cholesterol, our levels can spike. You may want to avoid overconsuming foods with “bad fats”—saturated and trans fat—like animal products (red meats and dairy products made with whole milk) and oils found in certain baked goods. Instead, eating heart-healthy and high-fiber fruits, veggies, lean meats and fish, whole grains and nuts may be helpful in a cholesterol-lowering diet.