When your doctor told you to stay away from foods with too much cholesterol, he might not have explained the 
difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Here are a few pointers, to help you tell the difference.
First of all the basic difference is that LDL cholesterol is bad, and HDL cholesterol is good. Both are used by the body to produce things that are needed to live: hormones, bile salts, and vitamin D, to name a few. But the main difference is LDL’s tendency to stick to the walls of your arteries as it travels through your bloodstream. As more and more of it clings to the walls, your blood has a harder and harder time pumping through ever increasingly crowded arteries. This is why high cholesterol and high blood pressure are so closely linked. When a chunk of LDL cholesterol breaks off and lodges itself someplace downstream, that’s a stroke, which is something you want to avoid.
HDL Cholesterol is the good stuff, for a number of reasons. First of all, it carries out the basic functions of cholesterol in your body, without any of the negative side effects. But it also helps fight the bad cholesterol, which for you, is a good thing. HDL cholesterol can scrub your arterial walls, and reduce the LDL cholesterol that is stuck to the sides. Eating the right fibers is also a great way to do this. Physical activity is also a great way to raise your HDL levels.
In addition to eating all the right foods to reduce cholesterol, make sure you have your HDL cholesterol levels monitored as well. An HDL level of lower than 40mg/dL can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke, so make sure your eating enough Omega-3, soluble fiber, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.