Cholesterol is a fat-like substance, also called a lipid or sterol, that is manufactured in the liver and is used in various body processes, including cell formation and the production of hormones. Many of the foods you eat also contain cholesterol, mainly animal products. Because too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke, it's a good idea to limit or avoid foods that are high in cholesterol.
Egg Yolks
MayoClinic.com recommends that a healthy person get no more than 300 mg of cholesterol a day, and if you have heart disease, that number drops to 200 mg. One egg yolk, at around 210 to 215 mg of cholesterol, pretty much provides your entire daily allowance of cholesterol. Egg dishes such as omelets and scrambled eggs often contain two or more eggs. You can still enjoy eggs without the cholesterol by using only the whites or by using an egg substitute.
Organ Meats
Organ meats, such as livers and hearts, make eggs look tame by comparison when it comes to cholesterol content. According to the University of California, San Francisco, or UCSF, chicken liver is one of the most high-cholesterol foods available, with 631 mg of cholesterol in a 3 1/2-oz. serving. Beef liver is also high in cholesterol, with 389 mg of cholesterol in the same portion size, according to UCSF.
Meat and Poultry
Though not as high in cholesterol as eggs or organ meats, regular cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken are relatively high in cholesterol. However, these meats--save for chicken--are also high in saturated fat, which the Mayo Clinic says plays a role in increased cholesterol levels. A 3-1/2-oz. serving of beef spareribs has 94 mg of cholesterol and a whopping 18 g of saturated fat, according to UCSF. A 3 1/2-oz. pork chop has 85 mg of cholesterol and 10 g of saturated fat. Chicken is high in cholesterol, with 85 mg in a 3 1/2-oz. serving, but low in saturated fat, with only 1 g.
Fish and Shellfish
Though fish are generally low in fat, some, especially cold-water fish and shellfish, contain relatively high amounts of cholesterol. Shrimp, for instance, have 194mg in a 3-1/-oz. serving, according to UCSF. Other shellfish also have significant amounts of cholesterol, including lobster, oysters and crab. Salmon is also relatively high in cholesterol, with 63mg in the same 3 1/2-oz. serving. Halibut and tuna have smaller amounts. The cholesterol in fish is offset somewhat, because they are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These substances have been shown to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries--which is caused in part by excess cholesterol--and reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com.
