Understanding Food and Cholesterol
Understanding Food and Cholesterol
Having a high cholesterol level puts you at risk for heart disease and other health problems. What you eat has a big effect on your body’s cholesterol level. Eating certain foods can raise your cholesterol. Other foods can help you lower it. Watching what you eat can help you get your cholesterol level under control.
Know which foods are high in saturated fat and trans fat
Foods high in saturated fat and trans fat can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol. It’s important to know which foods are high in these fats, and eat less of them. This can help you manage your cholesterol levels.
Foods high in these fats are:
Animal products, including beef, lamb, pork, and poultry with skin on
Cold cuts, bacon, sausage
Creamy sauces and fatty gravies
Cookies, donuts, muffins, and pastries
Fried foods
Shortening, butter, coconut oil, palm oil, cocoa butter, partially hydrogenated oils (read labels)
High-fat dairy products, such as whole milk, cheese, cream cheese, and ice cream
Better choices:
Lean beef, skinless white-meat poultry, fish
Tomato sauce, vegetable puree
Dried fruit, bagels, bread with jam
Baked, broiled, steamed, or roasted foods
Soft (tub) margarine, canola oil, and olive oil in moderate amounts
Low-fat or nonfat dairy products, such as 1% or fat-free milk, and reduced-fat cheese
Use fiber to help control cholesterol
Foods high in fiber can help you keep your cholesterol down. Good sources of fiber are:
Oats
Barley
Whole grains
Beans
Vegetables
Cornmeal
Popcorn
Berries, apples, other fruits
Updated:  
October 07, 2017
Reviewed By:  
Horowitz, Diane, MD,Wilkins, Joanna, RD, CD