Cholesterol is found in foods from animal products, such as meat, dairy and eggs, and anything made with these ingredients. Therefore, a vegetarian diet will result in consuming less cholesterol. This is not always the case, however, if you eat a vegetarian diet that includes significant amounts of whole milk dairy products and whole eggs.
Basics
Vegetarian diets can vary greatly. Some people avoid eating meat, but consume animal products such as dairy and cheese. Other vegetarians, known as vegans, abstain from all animal products and byproducts. These ranges in vegetarianism play a role in the amount of cholesterol in your vegetarian diet.
Specifics
Eating a strict vegan diet will decrease your dietary cholesterol intake to nothing, because your diet will be plant-based, with no foods that contain cholesterol. There are no health risks associated with not consuming cholesterol, because your liver makes enough cholesterol to keep your body healthy.
A vegetarian diet that includes dairy products and eggs will lessen your cholesterol intake when compared to a diet that includes meat, but the specific reductions in cholesterol will be specific to your diet.
Sources of Cholesterol
There are various sources of cholesterol in vegetarian diets, and some sources are considered high-cholesterol foods. An egg with the yolk will add 213mg of cholesterol to your diet. A cup of whole milk has 35mg of cholesterol; a tablespoon of butter contains 31mg of cholesterol; a 1/2 cup serving of cottage cheese has 17mg of cholesterol. Skim milk has less cholesterol, with as little as 5mg per cup, reports the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Benefits
According to the American Heart Association, vegetarian diets are often associated with a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some types of cancer. This is primarily thanks to decreased amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat intake.
The BBC News reported a study conducted by researchers in Canada that was published in the "Journal of Metabolism." The study found that a vegetarian diet that included foods such as soy-based meat substitutes, fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain products, nuts and tofu can significantly lower the blood cholesterol levels of people with high cholesterol, and may be as effective as common drug treatments.
Cautions
Although a vegetarian diet, and especially a vegan diet, is often lower in dietary cholesterol, remember that your intake of cholesterol is not the only thing that plays a role in the development of diseases such as heart disease. The intake of saturated fat and trans fat can also contribute to high blood cholesterol levels. While vegetarian diets are likely to be lower in saturated fat, you may be consuming trans fats unknowingly. This can be risky to your health; even small amounts of trans fats can lower your good cholesterol and raise your bad cholesterol. Avoid vegetarian sweets, junk food, fast food and processed foods that are made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
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