Would you like to reduce your cholesterol level with just a few simple diet changes? Not the type of changes where you avoid certain foods, just simple changes where you eat the right foods? Start now by eating more of the following four foods:

Barley: Oatmeal was the first food to be endorsed by the Food & Drug Administration as having the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. Now another whole grain – barley – has achieved the same distinction. It’s not magic – it’s simply the soluble fiber in barley and oatmeal which helps lower cholesterol. Other good sources of soluble fiber are apples, oranges, bananas, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, beans and flaxseed.

Avocado: Sure, avocados are high in fat, but it’s the right type of heart-healthy fat that boosts HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. Avocados naturally contain beta-sitosterol, a type of plant sterol that inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and promotes lower blood cholesterol levels. Look for plant sterols added to other products such as Minute Maid® Premium Heart Wise™ orange juice and Nature Valley™ Healthy Heart chewy granola bars.

Walnuts: Nuts are so good for your heart. Almonds and walnuts in particular offer a heart-healthy blend of nutritious oils, cholesterol-removing plant sterols and soluble fiber, plus vitamin E, the combination of which helps reduce cholesterol.

Tuna: Both tuna and salmon are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 oils. This unique fat may help prevent hardening of the arteries as well as prevent blood platelets from clumping together and blocking arteries. Omega-3 fats from fish may also reduce triglycerides.

Need help eating heart-healthy? Many of our Hy-Vee stores offer cholesterol-removing food workshops, heart-healthy tours and cholesterol screenings. Find a calendar of events for your favorite Hy-Vee store by finding a dietitian near you at Hy-VeeHealth.com.

Nutty Granola

Begin your day with a heart-smart breakfast

All you need

5 cups Hy-Vee uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal

1 cup steel-cut oats

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup walnut pieces

1 cup Hy-Vee shredded coconut

1 (6 oz) pkg Hy-Vee dried apricots, chopped

1/2 cup almond oil

1/2 cup Hy-Vee honey

3/4 tsp Hy-Vee cinnamon

All you do

In a large mixing bowl, stir together oatmeal, steel-cut oats, almonds, walnuts, coconut and apricots. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together almond oil, honey and cinnamon; add to oat mixture and stir well. Place granola in a greased pan and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour, stirring granola every 10 minutes. Cool and store in sealable sandwich bags. When ready to serve, top with yogurt, fresh fruit or skim milk. Serves 16 (1/2-cup servings).

Nutrition facts: 320 calories, 43g carbs, 14g fat, 7g protein, 5g fiber, 15mg sodium.