How Much Cholesterol Should I Ingest Per Day?

You may be surprised to learn that cholesterol is actually good for you. The body needs cholesterol to function properly. However, cholesterol levels that spiral out of control can lead to heart disease or stroke, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports that more than 65 million Americans have blood cholesterol levels that are too high. To keep your cholesterol levels in balance, you may need to limit the amount of cholesterol you ingest each day.

Types

The two types of cholesterol are HDL and LDL. HDL is the type that is good for you, and LDL is the "bad" type. Too much LDL or too little HDL can lead to coronary heart disease.

Function

Cholesterol is a type of fat. Your liver produces cholesterol and uses it to make digestive acids called bile. The liver also takes cholesterol from the blood, and the intestines absorb some cholesterol. HDL, the "good" cholesterol, serves two major functions. It helps to keep the LDL cholesterol from clogging your arteries, and it helps to protect against heart disease. HDL levels less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women increase the risk of coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Considerations

Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, often much more. You also get cholesterol from foods you eat. Your body produces about 75 percent of your total blood cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. The remaining 25 percent comes from the foods you eat.

Effects

When too much cholesterol circulates in your blood, it can clog your arteries. This increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Reasons for too much cholesterol in the blood vary. Sometimes, the intestines cannot absorb all the cholesterol the liver produces. Some people inherit genes that cause them to produce too much cholesterol. A diet high in cholesterol and fat is also a source of too much blood cholesterol.

Recommendations

The American Heart Association recommends that, on the average, you ingest less than 300 mg of cholesterol daily. If you have a history of heart disease, limit your cholesterol intake to less than 200 mg daily.