Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can lower your cholesterol
High cholesterol can be inherited, but it's often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which make it preventable and treatable. To lower or prevent high cholesterol:
- Eat a diet that emphasizes fruit, vegetables and whole grains
- Limit the amount of animal fats and use healthy fats in moderation
- Lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight
- Be physically active most days of the week
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
- Manage stress levels
- Quit smoking
Goodbye bad habits, hello good heart health
Only the Mayo Clinic Diet has the Habit Optimizer, designed to help you make lasting lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol and lose weight.
The Mayo Clinic Diet program puts you in charge of reshaping your body and improving your health — for a lifetime.
Voted a Best Heart-Healthy Diet by U.S. News & World Report
Rated a "Best Heart-Healthy Diet"
Rated #1 Diet Program
Mediterranean Diet Rated #1
Rated a "Best Diet Overall"
The Mayo Clinic Diet helps members lose weight while finding heart health
The Mayo Clinic Diet program makes it easy for you to improve your diet and exercise habits to reduce high cholesterol. What to expect:
Lose It! is a two-week quick-start program designed to help you lose up to 6 to 10 pounds in a safe and healthy way
Live it! is a long-term plan in which you continue to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week until you reach your goal
Choose from six meal plans including Mediterranean, Healthy Keto, Higher Protein, and Vegetarian
All-new Habit Optimizer teaches you how to build and maintain healthy new habits
Learn how to maintain your healthy weight for life
Delicious recipes and helpful grocery lists
Reminders and tracking tools to keep you on track
Food tracker with over 1 million foods
Get Mayo Clinic expert guidance on topics that include behavior change, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and goal setting
All-new digital platform that has helped members lose 3x more weight*
Unlimited access to a members Private Facebook Group
Practical at-home workouts – no equipment required
*Members who complete a 12 Week Program lose 3 times more weight than those who start but don't reach the end. Reference: Hendrie, GA, et al, J Med Internet Res. 2021 Jun; 23(6): e20981.
Meet our trusted health professionals
“High blood cholesterol levels can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. The Mayo Clinic Diet helps members lose weight while finding heart health.”
- Stephen Kopecky, M.D., cardiologist at Mayo Clinic
Meet the expertsMeet our trusted health professionals
“We all know how challenging losing weight can be, which is why we created The Mayo Clinic Diet. But this is much more than a diet; it’s a program that promotes long-term lifestyle changes that can markedly improve your overall health and help you to feel great!”
Donald D. Hensrud, M.D., diet expert at Mayo Clinic
Meet the expertsHow Carol Cate got back to feeling healthy
“When I was diagnosed with high cholesterol I found the Mayo Clinic diet and since then I’m down 47 lbs. I love feeling healthy again.” ~ Carol Cate
Learn how to eat well and lower cholesterol
The Mayo Clinic Diet teaches a common sense, medically-sound approach to making smart decisions about eating — so you can lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health.
By following a real food, plants-first eating plan that promotes weight loss and improved health
Find an eating style that works for you — choose between six different meal plans including Mediterranean, Vegetarian and The Original Mayo Clinic Diet
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cut out all meat and dairy on the Mayo Clinic Diet?
No, the Mayo Clinic Diet includes small amounts of meat and skim and low-fat dairy products. If you’d like to avoid meat, you can choose the Vegetarian meal plan which is meat-free and includes dairy.
Can I eat sugar and drink alcohol on the Mayo Clinic Diet?
Yes. In the first two-week Lose It! phase you’re encouraged to avoid sugar (except for what’s found in fruit) and alcohol to jumpstart your healthy habits. In the ongoing Live It! phase, you learn how to limit sugar and alcohol to special occasions.
How long before I see a reduction in my cholesterol levels?
Studies have shown that changing your diet can lower your cholesterol in as little as two weeks, but this can vary greatly depending on your weight, activity level and starting blood lipid levels.
Does the program include an exercise plan?
Yes, exercise and physical activity are important lifestyle habits that can improve your health and lower cholesterol. The program includes practical at-home workouts.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
No, you do not need a referral from your doctor to join the Mayo Clinic Diet.
Will the Mayo Clinic Diet program affect my medication?
Even modest weight loss can require changes to the amount or types of medication you take, so it is important to continue working with your doctor while losing weight.