People looking to reduce their cholesterol and improve their heart health might be interested in a hidden gem called the portfolio diet.

The portfolio diet is related to the popular and broader Mediterranean diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and healthy fats, but it is a bit more specialized. It calls for substituting foods derived from animal sources with a portfolio of plant-based foods high in fiber, protein and healthy fats. MORE: Feeling stressed? Taking a trip to an art museum may help relieve it

Dr. Richard Jenkins, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, came up with the portfolio diet in the early 2000s.

"You're spreading out your risks and benefits and trying to maximize your financial returns," Jenkins recently told the

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