Consuming the recommended amount of cholesterol can reduce the cholesterol content in your blood and decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease. More than 100 million adults in the United States have high blood cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 35 million of these Americans have levels high enough to raise their risk for developing heart disease. Lower your dietary cholesterol and reduce your chances of having a heart attack.
Source
Your liver makes cholesterol and you consume cholesterol in the food you eat. Cholesterol is an important component in the formation of cell membranes, the manufacture of hormones like estrogen and testosterone, the creation of bile acids and for metabolizing vitamins A, D, E and K. You do not need to eat cholesterol. If you did not consume dietary cholesterol, your liver would make enough to do all those jobs.
Types
There are two types of cholesterol and each has a recommended level for optimal health. Dietary cholesterol is the type you eat. Animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy contain cholesterol. Standards establish the recommended amount of cholesterol in food. Cholesterol consumed in foods and created by the body travel to the cells of the body through the bloodstream. A cholesterol test measures the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Standards have been set for recommended blood cholesterol levels.
Dietary Cholesterol
The American Heart Association recommends limiting your dietary cholesterol intake to 300 mg if you are healthy, and 200 mg each day if you have heart disease. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high cholesterol. Reduce your intake of saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fats to reduce your blood cholesterol and risk for developing heart disease.
Blood Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol levels increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. A person with total cholesterol over 240 mg/dL is at high risk for heart disease. Doctors recommended cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dL.
LDL and HDL
LDL and HDL are also measurements of blood cholesterol. Doctors recommend elevated amounts of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and reduced low-density lipoproteins (LDL) for optimum heart health. The best HDL levels are over 60 mg/dL. Men with HDL below 40 mg/dL and women whose HDL is below 50 mg/dL are at increased risk, as are those people with LDL levels over 100 mg/dL.
Treatment
Replace fatty foods high in cholesterol with healthier foods to reduce the amount of cholesterol you consume and the level of cholesterol in your blood. Avoid products made with animal fats, like butter and deep fried foods. Foods high in fiber add volume to food and may reduce blood cholesterol, reducing both your dietary and blood cholesterol to recommended levels.
