The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite high LDL cholesterol as one of the risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Even with these startling facts, Americans still can't seem to shake high-cholesterol foods from their diet. Instead of trying to cut out all foods that are high in cholesterol, focus on the top five worst foods for raising cholesterol. Once you've stopped consuming them, you may be motivated to make healthier choices overall.
Butter
A study published in a 2004 Journal of American College Nutrition found that there was an immediate spike in cholesterol when butter was consumed, making butter a dangerous food for people already suffering from high cholesterol. Butter can actually contain as much as 30 mg of cholesterol per tablespoon, an outrageously high number. Switching to a margarine or butter alternative can help keep your LDL numbers low and your heart healthy.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is made of decadent ingredients like cream, artificial flavorings and sugar, all which are enemies of low cholesterol. The saturated fat content alone makes ice cream a nightmare for those who already have heart problems. Substituting with a fat-free sorbet or a lower fat version of your favorite flavors can save you necessary cholesterol and build-up in your body.
Sausage and Bacon
You may love nothing more than to start your day off by consuming a few slices of bacon and a couple links of sausage. But, before you eat those unhealthy breakfast meats, think about the cholesterol content found within them. Both are extremely high in saturated fats. The Department of Internal Medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine recommends avoiding fatty breakfast meats when cholesterol is in question, and to instead try a leaner meat, like Canadian bacon or turkey bacon, to satisfy your taste for breakfast meats.
Hamburgers
While an occasional grilled hamburger made of extra lean ground beef is not a bad choice, filling your diet with fatty fried hamburgers laden with extra toppings, like bacon, mayonnaise and cheese, is a bad choice when trying to keep cholesterol low. One hamburger made by a popular food chain has 150 mg of cholesterol in the burger, making it a literal heart stopper. Choose your burgers wisely, go easy on the toppings, or choose an alternative, like a veggie burger, instead.
French Fries
A hamburger wouldn't be complete without an order of crispy french fries. However, think twice before super-sizing your fries. According to "Time" magazine, fast food french fries are fried in reused partially hydrogenated oil, and are a high source of trans fats and cholesterol. Opting for a side salad over salty, fatty fries can save your cholesterol intake and your heart health.
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