What foods are high in bad cholesterol

Ways to lower your cholesterol

Eat less fatty food

To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat.

You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat.

Check labels on food to see what type of fat it has in it.

Try to eat more:

• oily fish, like mackerel and salmon
• brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholewheat pasta
• nuts and seeds
• fruits and vegetables

Try to eat less:

• meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
• butter, lard and ghee
• cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
• cakes and biscuits
• food that contains coconut oil or palm oil

Exercise more

Aim to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week.

Some good things to try when starting out include:

• walking – try to walk fast enough so your heart starts beating faster
• swimming
• cycling

Try a few different exercises to find something you like doing. You're more likely to keep doing it if you enjoy it.

Stop smoking

Smoking can raise your cholesterol and make you more likely to have serious problems like heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

If you want to stop smoking, you can get help and support from:

• your GP
• the NHS Stop Smoking Service – your GP can refer you or you can ring the helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only)

They can give you useful tips and advice about ways to stop cravings.

Cut down on alcohol

Try to:

• avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
• have several drink-free days each week
• avoid drinking lots of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking)

Ask your GP for help and advice if you're struggling to cut down.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all of your cells. It is produced by your liver, helps keep your cells from breaking down, and is involved in the production of hormones and vitamins. Additional cholesterol in your body comes from consuming animal-based foods.

Cholesterol comes in two major forms: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or "bad" cholesterol, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or "good" cholesterol.

Consuming some cholesterol in your diet can be perfectly safe, but because your body makes all the cholesterol you need, it's not necessary to consume any through the foods you eat. Experts recommended that you consume as little dietary cholesterol as possible.

Why You Should Avoid Cholesterol

Cholesterol circulates throughout the bloodstream, and too much of it can have negative effects on your body, especially your heart. High levels of "bad" cholesterol can raise your risk of heart disease or stroke.

When you have too much LDL cholesterol in your system, it can form plaque, which is a buildup on the walls of the blood vessels. This buildup narrows the blood vessels, which blocks the healthy flow of blood in the body and can potentially cause a heart attack or other problems. For this reason, experts recommend consuming less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per day.  

Cholesterol also travels within the central nervous system and is important for normal brain functioning. Too much of it, however, may have negative consequences for learning and memory. Reducing cholesterol through the use of drugs called statins may improve memory, but more research is needed in this regard. 

Foods With Cholesterol

1. Egg Yolks

Eggs are frequently considered one of the worst sources of dietary cholesterol. A single egg contains about 186 milligrams of cholesterol, which is more than half of the maximum daily recommended intake. All of that cholesterol is found in the yolk.

2. Cheese

Cheese is another big offender when it comes to cholesterol. A single slice of Monterey Jack cheese, or 21 grams, contains 18.7 milligrams of cholesterol. While a little cheese in your diet won’t hurt, it can quickly add up to a major source of dietary cholesterol.

3. Shrimp

Despite being a low-fat food, shrimp are surprisingly high in cholesterol. A single 4-ounce serving of shrimp has 170 milligrams of cholesterol. That’s more than half of your recommended daily intake. 

4. Organ Meats

Organ meats such as liver are known to be rich in vitamins and nutrients. While this makes them an excellent part of many diets, they aren’t a great choice for people trying to reduce their cholesterol. A 3-ounce serving of beef liver, for example, contains 333 milligrams of cholesterol.

5. Sardines

Similar to shrimp, sardines are a potent seafood source of cholesterol. An ounce of sardines contains as much as 40 milligrams of cholesterol, and it’s easy to eat more than an ounce at a time. 

6. Fast Food

Fast food tends to be high in fried fats and almost always involves some sort of animal product, which can make it bad for your cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that regularly eating at fast-food restaurants leads to an increase in cholesterol and may even lower "good" cholesterol.

Cholesterol-Free Alternatives

1. Egg Whites

 Egg whites are cholesterol-free and can be used to replace whole eggs in many recipes. 

2. Low- Fat Cheese

Low-fat cheeses tend to be lower in cholesterol than full-fat cheeses.

3. White Meats

Instead of dark meats like beef and pork, look to options like chicken instead. Even if you eat the skin, chicken breast has less than a quarter of the cholesterol per serving compared with beef liver.

4. Water-Packed Tuna

Tuna is lower in cholesterol than sardines, especially when packed in water rather than oil. An ounce of water-packed tuna contains only 10.2 milligrams of cholesterol.

5. Baked Foods

Fast food is often fried in hydrogenated oils, which are high in trans fats and can raise LDL cholesterol levels. Baked foods do not add any fats or oils and may therefore be lower in cholesterol. 

6. Beans

If you want a protein boost without the cholesterol, beans are naturally cholesterol-free. Beans are also linked to lower levels of blood cholesterol in general.