Cholesterolis a waxy substance the body uses to build cells and make certain hormones and vitamins.
However,too much cholesterolin the blood can lead to plaque formation and the development of heart disease.
Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs to function properly.
Thai Liang Lim/ Getty Images
It is also found in many foods.
This article discusses the healthiest cholesterol-containing foods, plus ones to avoid.
Eggs
Eggs provide high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Experts recommend healthy individualscan consume up to one whole egg daily.
Older adults withnormal cholesterol levelsmay consume up to two eggs daily.
Healthy individuals should limit their shrimp intake to 3 ounces daily.
Experts recommend eating two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish, such as sardines per week.
Organ Meat
Organ meats like the liver, heart, and kidneys are packed with nutrients.
Beef liver is higher in vitamins and minerals than muscle meat yet lower in calories and fat.
A 3-ounce cooked beef liver provides protein,iron, and zinc.
It also contains 333 mg of cholesterol.
However, cheese is also a good source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus.
Grass-fed beef contains less fat and cholesterol than grain-fed beef.
Full-Fat Dairy
Full-fat dairy is a cholesterol-rich food with many nutrients essential to bone health.
One cup of whole milk yogurt provides 31.8 mg of cholesterol.
Fried Foods
Deep-fried chicken wings and other fried foods that are high in cholesterol should be avoided.
This saturated fat can raise your blood cholesterol levels and increase your risk for heart disease.
One study linked frequent fast food consumption to overweight, abdominal fat gain, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Higher fast food consumption is also associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.
These include:
Summary
All high-cholesterol foods are not bad.
Including these foods in a balanced diet is unlikely to cause harm if you consume them in moderation.
However, other cholesterol-containing foods like fried foods, processed foods, and fast food should be limited.
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