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What Is a Low Cholesterol Diet?

Cholesterol is made by the body and is also present in food. 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 cause harmful effects. It is the saturated fat in food that has the greatest 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.

Saturated fat is found in foods from plant and animal sources. Coconut oil and palm oil are mostly saturated fat. Cholesterol is found in foods from animals only, such as:

• meats, poultry and seafood
• egg yolks
• butter, whole milk, and cheese

Eating too many of these foods also increases the body's production of cholesterol.

Not all foods from animals cause problems. While egg yolks and whole milk are high in cholesterol, egg whites and skim milk are not. The white meat of turkey and chicken is low in cholesterol when eaten without the skin. There are many lowfat, or skim milk, cheeses now available. You can continue to enjoy the foods you like if you choose with care.

A diet low in saturated fat is also low in cholesterol. The American Heart Association suggests that less than 30 percent of your day's total calories should come from fat. Less than 10 percent of those total fat calories should come from saturated fat.

Saturated fat, such as butter, cheese, and the fat in meat, is solid at room temperature. Eat more foods that do not contain cholesterol, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. It is also important to eat a well-balanced diet to get the essential nutrients you need to stay healthy.

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
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