High cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Although the foods you eat are only one contributing factor to your cholesterol levels, it's worth paying attention to your diet if you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol. Foods to avoid are those that are high in saturated fats as well as those high in dietary cholesterol, especially those high in LDL or "bad" cholesterol.Your total amount of daily cholesterol intake should not exceed 200 mg, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and your saturated fat intake should be lower than 14 grams a day. In general, if you avoid animal fats, you will also avoid cholesterol.
Liver
Liver and other organ meats are high in cholesterol, so limit your intake of these foods. A 1-oz. serving of chicken liver contains almost 100 mg of cholesterol.
Egg Yolks
All of the cholesterol in eggs is found in the yolk, which is why egg-white omelets and scrambled egg whites are a healthier choice than similar dishes made with whole eggs. One large egg yolk contains about 270 mg of cholesterol, which exceeds the Cleveland Clinic's daily recommended limit of 200 mg a day.
Full-Fat Dairy
Full-fat dairy is a major source of both dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, so avoid cream, whole milk, and certain cheeses if you're on a low-cholesterol diet. This especially implicates desserts, from ice cream to creme brulee to strawberries and cream. One cup of whole milk has about 5 g of saturated fat and 25 mg of cholesterol. Look to low-fat dairy alternatives instead.
Butter
Butter is high in both saturated fat and cholesterol. One stick of butter has about 60 g of saturated fat -- more than four times the recommended daily maximum -- and 243 mg of cholesterol. For sauteing foods, olive oil or other vegetable oils are a good alternative choice.
Lard
Lard is another animal fat that is high in cholesterol and saturated fats, so avoid it if possible. One cup of lard has nearly 200 mg of cholesterol and 80 g of saturated fat.
Tropical Oils
Both coconut oil and palm kernel oil are high in saturated fats, which is what keeps them solid at room temperature and thus makes them desirable for certain cooking and baking needs, especially in processed foods, where recently they've been used to replace trans fats. One cup of coconut oil has about 190 g of saturated fat, while a cup of palm kernel oil has about 180 g of saturated fat.
Trans Fats
Trans fats are a kind of artificially produced unsaturated fat made from vegetable sources that have recently been linked to coronary artery disease. They're found primarily in processed foods -- look on the label for phrases such as "partially hydrogenized," which is another phrase for trans fat.
