As you probably know, having high cholesterol levels in your blood is not good, and it is a severe health issue.
That is no secret and a very known fact.
The problem is that most people don’t know (or care) about the cholesterol values of the foods they eat and fail to understand that very simple and small changes to what you eat can make a world of difference for your cholesterol levels.
Knowing what foods are not recommended is the first step, so I decided to make it simple for you, and after a little research, I came up with the following list of High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid. I am sure that some of these foods are on your daily diet, and if you are suffering from high cholesterol levels, you know which foods you need to avoid.
1. Egg Yolks
Bodybuilders are well known for gulping whole eggs by the dozens to help them build their muscles. Whether or not this is an effective training technique is debatable, but what is clear is that eating so many eggs yolks is a fast way to very high cholesterol levels.
The American Heart Association recommends a maximum daily cholesterol intake of 300 mg per day, and in case you already have high cholesterol, you need to stay below 200 mg per day. For example, if you have an egg for breakfast, you are already up to 213 mg of cholesterol!
On the other hand, Egg whites are something you can enjoy without worrying; the problem is only with the egg yolk. So try to find something else to eat for breakfast.
2. Fatty Meats
Many claims that meat is not a healthy choice for your diet. I don’t agree with that completely as I think that it depends on the meat you include in your diet. I don’t think meat is something you need to eliminate in your daily diet, but I do think that moderation and healthy choices are the keys.
Regarding cholesterol levels, you should be careful about eating various types of meat with high-fat content. Also, remember that many meat dishes are served with various sides that can also be high in cholesterol themselves.
3. Chicken Skin
Chicken is frequently recommended as an alternative to consuming red meat. Chicken is the perfect choice for the lean type of meat that also absorbs various flavors. But the main problem with chicken is when it comes to cholesterol in the skin.
Chicken skin is something that many find very tasty and fail to understand how unhealthy it is. So when making chicken choices, go for skinless chicken.
4. Organ Meats
Eating organ meats (Liver, Kidneys, Heart, Giblets, Tongue, Pancreas & Gizzards) isn’t a big problem since most people don’t eat organ meats very often. But, in case you are one of the few that does enjoy these types of meats on a regular basis, then you might need to think it over.
Organ meats are filled with iron and protein, which is good for you, but they also have a very high cholesterol level, so if you are already suffering from high cholesterol levels, you should avoid eating organ meats too often.
If you want to know the exact numbers of cholesterol in various organ meats, then you check out this page.
5. Saturated Fats
To make things simple for you, when it comes to saturated fats, anything that is oily or greasy will fall into the saturated fats category.
Things like butter may taste great, but you probably already know that you shouldn’t eat too much of it regularly. Likewise, fires or anything that is deep-fried is also something you shouldn’t be eating too much. Trans fats are a key component of processed food and snacks (think chips and cookies), and the smart choice will be to avoid these types of foods.
Foods with high saturated fats include hydrogenated oils, dried coconut, butter, rendered animal fats, dark chocolate, various fish oils, cheese, nuts and seeds, processed meats, and whipped cream.
6. Desserts
When people think of desserts, they usually think of high sugar levels, which is true. But on top of the high sugar levels, most desserts also contain high cholesterol levels, and most chances are that you are not aware of that.
I am sure you will be surprised to learn that a single cup of ice cream has more fat than a hamburger and more cholesterol than 10 glazed doughnuts? So do yourself a favor and skip the ice cream and go for the fruit, oats, nuts, and/or cinnamon-based desserts you can find.
Since I know it will be hard for most of you to think of any good desserts that are low in cholesterol levers and that you can enjoy fully, I decided to find some great resources for you.
Here are health.com’s 10 Heart-Healthy Dessert Recipes, and here are some additional recipes for low-fat desserts.
7. Dairy Products
Milk in its natural form is great for your body, and you should aim to consume as much natural milk as you can. The problem is that finding natural milk is not easy, and most people only consume Homogenized milk, and that is not something you should be drinking regularly. So instead, try to aim for drinking skim milk or one percent milk.
Now You Know
The good news is that now you know which high cholesterol foods to avoid.
The bad news is that you will probably need to stop eating some of your favorite foods, but that is the price you will pay for being healthier, and trust me, it is well worth the price.
It might be hard initially, but if you follow a low cholesterol diet plan and add some Foods That Lower Cholesterol, you should be able to keep enjoying food while staying healthy and keeping your cholesterol levels in check.
If you know of any additional High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid that I didn’t mention in this article, then please share them with the readers and me. One for all and all for one.
Stay healthy 🙂