A diet high in cholesterol puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease. More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 35 million of these Americans have cholesterol levels high enough to put them at increased risk for developing heart disease. A diet that exceeds the recommended daily allowance of dietary cholesterol increases the amount of this fatty substance in the bloodstream.
Level
A healthy person should consume less than 300 g of dietary cholesterol each day, according to the American Heart Association. Someone with heart disease should aim for less than 200 mg per day to decrease his cholesterol levels and his risk for heart disease. Every 1 percent drop in your cholesterol reduces your risk for heart disease by 2 percent, according to ClevelandClinic.org.
Anatomy
You need some cholesterol for your body to function properly. You do not need to consume any cholesterol -- your body would manufacture all you need for cell membrane development, production of hormones and metabolism of vitamins. Cholesterol is made primarily in the liver and intestines, according to the Iowa State University website, created from fragments of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. When you eat food containing cholesterol, your body decreases production accordingly.
Sources
Consuming the recommended daily allowance of cholesterol is easier once you understand where cholesterol comes from. Animals create cholesterol in their livers. Cholesterol is present in animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy. Plants do not contain cholesterol, according to the National Library of Medicine. A diet low in animal products and high in vegetables, fruit, nuts and grains fits the recommended daily allowance of cholesterol.
Foods
Foods containing saturated fats, such as bacon and cheese, are very high in cholesterol. Eat these foods in moderation to stay within the daily allowance of cholesterol. Butter and shortening are high in cholesterol. Replace these with olive or canola oil during food preparation. Dips, mayonnaise and creams add cholesterol. Use the USDA "Cholesterol Content of Selected Foods" to determine the exact cholesterol content of foods and whether it fits in the recommended daily allowance.
Considerations
Eating too much fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high blood cholesterol. Cholesterol builds up in the bloodstream, accumulating inside blood vessel walls. This accumulation leads to heart disease. Reduce your blood cholesterol level and your risk for cardiovascular disease by eating less than the recommended daily allowance of cholesterol.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: September is National Cholesterol Education Month
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol
- ClevelandClinic.org: High Blood Cholesterol
- National Library of Medicine: X-Plain Managing Cholesterol
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cholesterol Content of Selected Foods
- Iowa University State: Cholesterol in Your Body
