find a cardiologist
find a cardiac surgeon

What Is Cholesterol and Saturated Fat?

Cholesterol is a compound that is used to build cell walls and make certain body chemicals required for life. It is made by the body and is also present in food from animal sources. Many parts of the body depend on cholesterol for their proper function. However, too much cholesterol can build up in places where it is harmful. Hereditary factors and too much saturated fat in the diet can add to this buildup.

It is the saturated fat in food that has the greatest negative effect on your blood cholesterol level. One place where cholesterol causes trouble is in the walls of blood vessels. Too much cholesterol can make the blood vessel brittle or can block the flow of blood. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meat, eggs, and butter.

Saturated fat is found in those animal products and in plant products, such as coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fat is easy to recognize because it is usually solid at room temperature. Other fats, such as polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat, are found in vegetable oils. These fats are liquid or very soft at room temperature.

The American Heart Association recommends the following guidelines for cholesterol and fats:

• cholesterol consumed daily should be less than 300 milligrams
• total fat consumed should be 30 percent or less of the day's total calories
• saturated fat consumed should be 7 to 10 percent of total calories (primary sources are animal products, palm and coconut oil)
• polyunsaturated fats consumed should be no more than 10 percent of total calories (primary sources are vegetable oils, nuts, and high-fat fish)
• monounsaturated fats consumed should be about 10 to 15 percent of total calories (primary sources are olive and canola oils)

For more information, speak with your health care provider. If your health care provider would like to refer you to a cardiologist, ask for a referral to a Saint Vincent Heart Center cardiac specialist. Information is also available by contacting your local chapter of the American Heart Association or call the national office at (800) 242-8721 or visit their website at www.americanheart.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. HIL File CARD4291.RF2 VRS# 6101 Data Version 7.0
Copyright 1999, 2002
McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.