This gal at work told me today that her doctor told her she had high cholesterol, and should use Palm Oil for cooking, and in her diet. I wasn't familiar with this, and started some research, came across a general article on fats that I thought I'd share.

Good fats, bad fats

An imbalance of cholesterol types can lead to increased risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Here are a few dietary tips for keeping "good" and "bad" cholesterol in check.
BY Jody Vassallo | Aug 25, 2009

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in fats in the bloodstream and in all cells of the body. The body needs cholesterol for the synthesis of vitamin D and it is essential for the production of hormones.
The body produces about 75 per cent of the cholesterol in the liver and cells; the remaining 25 per cent comes from the foods we eat.

There are two types of cholesterol: HDL (good) and LDL (bad). LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. Excess LDL clogs the arteries that lead to the heart and brain. HDL basically mops up the cholesterol and takes it back to the liver, where it is removed from the body. Too much LDL and not enough HDL can lead to increased risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Here are some tips for ensuring healthy cholesterol levels.

REDUCE THE BAD FATS
Be aware of the amount and types of fat you are consuming. Doctors recommend you avoid saturated fats, trans fats and foods that contain cholesterol.
The first step is to remove all saturated fats from your diet. Saturated fats, which are solid at room temperature, are found in butter, cream, cheese, full-fat milk, organ meat, fatty meat, pork and chicken (with skin). Fried and baked products are also sources of saturated fats, as palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil and cocoa butter are used.

Trans fats are unsaturated fats that have been hydrogenated, turning them from a liquid vegetable oil into a solid saturated fat. They raise LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Avoid sources of trans fats, which include french fries, onion rings, biscuits, cakes, crackers and soft (tub) vegetable margarine.
Limit foods that contain cholesterol, such as meat, chicken, shellfish, fish, egg yolk, pork, lamb, butter, cheese, cream and full-fat milk.

If you really need to monitor your cholesterol levels it�s a good idea to steer clear of sweet treats such as ice-cream, chocolate, cakes, donuts, biscuits, muffins and high-cholesterol desserts. These are usually made with butter or hydrogenated shortening (a source of trans fats).

Read food labels carefully, looking for sources of saturated and trans fats. These are especially found in snack foods such as corn chips, potato crisps, microwave popcorn and muesli bars.

Say no to fast foods, as most takeaway shops cook foods in palm oil. In many cases, chips are injected with beef tallow (saturated fat) to help them brown.

INCREASE GOOD FATS AND FIBRE

Familiarise yourself with sources of good fats, which include polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats. Sources of mono- unsaturated fats include avocado, nuts, olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, corn oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil.

Find healthy alternatives, such as replacing butter on sandwiches with nut butter or avocado. When making cakes use olive oil instead of butter.

Omega-3 fatty acids (polyunsaturated fats) are proven to lower cholesterol. 
Oily fish (including salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and freshwater trout) is 
a great source of omega-3.

Soluble fibre lowers LDL cholesterol, so boost the amount of soluble fibre in your diet. Good sources include oatmeal, psyllium, barley, pears, apples, prunes and kidney beans.

Walnuts are an excellent food for lowering blood cholesterol. Chop them roughly and then sprinkle them on salads, stir-fries and soups or toss them in a little warmed olive oil with your favourite spices.

Favour astringent fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, cranberries, pomegranate, quince, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

Enjoy sweet berries, cherries and persimmons and snack on dried peaches, pears, raisins and dates.

Give your liver a boost by adding bitter greens, such as rocket, spinach, swiss chard, kale and mustard greens, 
to salads, soups and stir-fries.

Eat garlic, garlic, garlic! Roast the cloves and add the garlic to mash (made with olive oil), vegetable purees, soups, baguettes and salads.

Fruits rich in pectin help to lower cholesterol, so enjoy a grapefruit or a large carrot and apple juice for breakfast.
Use plenty of fresh herbs in your cooking, especially parsley and mint, as they are also an easy way to add flavour. Holy basil has been found to dissolve accumulated cholesterol in the arteries.

Include plenty of grains in your diet. Barley, for example, increases fat metabolism. Millet, buckwheat, corn and rye are also good choices.

Great cholesterol-lowering spices are turmeric, cloves, cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, curry leaves and black pepper. Fenugreek seeds reduce LDL and increase HDL because the seed is high in fibre. Roast the seeds and add them to curries or spiced soups or use them to make fenugreek tea with slices of fresh ginger.

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"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~Thomas Edison~

so the Doc semi-lied to her? I tried something a few years back, canola and palm mix. I didn't like it at all to be honest. The problem I have with the GP is, that their advice is as their title, too damn General.

Fenugreek is great - my only problem is, after I get back from my spin classes I smell of curry. I looked into this, it seems some people actually sweat it out.

She was also told by her doctor NO fruit juices whatsoever, even if made at home with the juicer. Now I could see if she had diabetes...but no juice for cholesterol??? I guess it's possible that she's just misunderstanding the doctors info.

__________________
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~Thomas Edison~

I do not buy canola oil. I have read a number of articles on it that it is really bad for you and it does stand for something: CANadian Oil Low Acid. It contains small quantities of a toxin called erucic acid.