It's a common misconception that avoiding cholesterol in your diet is the best way to keep your cholesterol in check. While it's important to watch your cholesterol intake, it's more important to watch how much fat you are getting in your diet. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the amount and what kinds of fat you eat have the biggest effect on cholesterol levels. Too much saturated and trans fats in your diet can increase your cholesterol levels. Therefore, it is important to avoid foods high in these fats, even if they are low in cholesterol.
Whole Milk
Whole milk is surprisingly low in cholesterol, with only 33 mg in a 1-cup serving, which is only 11 percent of the daily recommended allowance for a healthy person, according to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. However, whole milk is high in fat, with that same 1-cup serving containing 8 g of total fat and 5 g of saturated fat, which is 25 percent of the recommended daily allowance. Reduced-fat or skim milk is a better option, as both contain not only less fat, but also less cholesterol.
Butter
Butter is another dairy product that is low in cholesterol but relatively high in fat. One tsp. of butter has only 11 mg of cholesterol, according to UCSF Medical Center, or slightly more than 3 percent of the recommended daily allowance, but it has 4 g of fat, 3 g of which is saturated fat. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends using soft-tub margarine instead, although it cautions that you must make sure the margarine you choose is free of trans fat.
Prepackaged Snacks
Companies have moved away from using trans fats in prepackaged snacks and baked goods, but many products still contain small amounts of this fat. Most of these products also contain high levels of saturated fats, sugar and sodium. For instance, a 2-oz. bag of Cheetos has only 10 mg of cholesterol, but it contains 20 g of fat, including 4 g of saturated fat. One Dunkin' Donuts double-chocolate cake doughnut is cholesterol-free, but it has 25 g of fat, including a whopping 11 g of trans fat, which is more than half the recommended daily allowance.
French Fries
French fries contain no cholesterol, but because they are usually fried in oil, they are loaded with fat. A medium-sized serving of French fries contains 25 g of fat, 5 g of which is saturated fat, according to NutrientFacts.com. Baking French fries in the oven or having a baked potato instead are better options for potato consumption.
