High cholesterol levels in the body can increase the risk of the formation of plaque in the arteries, which also adds to the risk of heart disease. Once cholesterol levels go above the normal levels, the simplest thing to do to manage it is to modify your diet. Apart from choosing the right foods for your main meals of the day, choosing healthy snacks is important. Here’s a list of some guilt-free snacks that you can enjoy if you have high cholesterol, and they’ll help manage the condition as well:

• Dark chocolate
  Chocolate with more than 70% concentrated cocoa is good for health when consumed in moderation. Dark chocolate that is least processed is most healthy as it has plenty of antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids, fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. Research has proven that it particularly increases High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol and lowers Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. It is also effective in preventing the oxidation of LDL and fights the build-up of plaque in the arteries.
• Potatoes
  Both regular and sweet potatoes, when baked with the (soluble) fiber-rich skin, are good for health. They provide much more potassium than bananas, but the benefits you get from the nutrition of potatoes depends on how you cook it. Instead of deep-frying and adding a heap of butter, which is the real cause of increasing fat, simply bake the potatoes with the skin. Then, you can add a spoonful of fresh plain yogurt, some minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and a dash of red chili flakes and salt. This snack is guilt-free for people with high cholesterol only when consumed in moderation, especially if you are diabetic, as potatoes are high in carbohydrates and simple starch. This can increase triglyceride levels and, ultimately, the total cholesterol levels.
• Tuna
  Tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain healthy cholesterol levels in your body. They lower the triglyceride levels and also increase the HDL cholesterol levels, and the improved ratio between both types of cholesterols reduces the formation of plaque in the arteries. You can have tuna salad with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and olives, and garnish it with some fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Nuts
  If you are not allergic to nuts and seeds, the fiber, protein, vitamins, monounsaturated fats, and antioxidants in them not only help lower cholesterol levels but also boost HDL cholesterol levels. Simply roast a handful of almonds, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds in a little olive oil and sprinkle dried rosemary, cayenne pepper, and salt. Glaze with a dash of maple syrup to give this guilt-free snack for high cholesterol a spicy, salty, and sweet flavor.
• Yogurt
  Make yourself a bowl of fresh fruit yogurt with raspberries, blueberries, grapes, and some dry roasted walnuts for crunch. You could also add fruits like strawberries, grapefruits, prunes, pears, or figs for a guilt-free snack for managing high cholesterol. This combination of ingredients lowers the triglycerides levels as well as LDL cholesterol levels.