As the festive season beckons we look forward to sitting down to Christmas parties and over-indulgence but we might just do well to keep an eye on the fatty foods and, most of all, on our cholesterol.

As the advert says– what you dont know mightkill you. A simple trip to your GP and a quick blood test will tell you what your cholesterol level is and inform you of what simple lifestyle changes you need to make to ensure it is at a healthy level that will permit you to enjoy life and keep your heart healthy.

Experts recommend that you get your cholesterol checked by your doctor once every five years and based on the results and your overall risk for heart disease, it should be checked between one and five yearly.

Your doctor will work with you to monitor your cholesterol on an ongoing basis. High cholesterol is a serious health risk because it can lead to coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular (heart) disease is the most common cause of death in Ireland, causing 43% of all deaths in 1997 and, more worrying, you can actually have high cholesterol without having any symptoms.

I have just been diagnosed with the condition but have a fondness for cream so know that this is probably the culprit so I have immediately eliminated that from my diet. You can lower your cholesterol by: Getting down to a healthy weight– being overweight means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body.

Eating oily fish twice a week. Eating more fruit and vegetables. Eating more wholegrain cereals and breads, plenty of jacket potatoes and rice and pasta. Choosing lean meats. Trimming fat off meat and skin off chicken. Draining oil from cooked dishes containing minced meat. Choosing low-fat dairy products. Choosing low-fat spreads made from sunflower or olive oil. Choosing less foods from the top shelf of the Food Pyramid. Using low-fat healthy ways of cooking, like grilling or oven-baking, instead of frying.