Understanding Cholesterol - Cholesterol vs. Dietary Cholesterol
Cholesterol comes from two sources. It's produced in your body, mostly in the liver (about 1,000 milligrams a day). And it's found in foods that come from animals, such as meats, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products. Foods from plants (fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds) do not contain cholesterol. Be sure to visit A World of Choices to discover more about these food groups.
The following definitions help clarify the differences between cholesterol and dietary cholesterol:
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and serves other bodily functions. But a high level of cholesterol in the blood - hypercholesterolemia - is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which causes heart attacks.
Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers of lipids and proteins called lipoproteins. There are several kinds, but the ones to be most concerned about are low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL).
To learn more about the important roles cholesterol and lipoproteins play in your well-being, refer to the Definitions in this section.
Dietary Cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol is found in meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products. Foods from plants - such as fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, grains, cereals, nuts and seeds - don't contain cholesterol. Egg yolks and organ meats are high in cholesterol. Shrimp and crayfish are somewhat high in cholesterol. Chicken, turkey and fish contain about the same amount of cholesterol as do lean beef, lamb and pork.
The American Heart Association recommends that your average daily intake of dietary cholesterol should be less than 300 milligrams. Remember, it's found only in foods from animals. Although it's not the same as a saturated fatty acid, dietary cholesterol can also raise your blood cholesterol level. You need cholesterol for your body to function normally, but your body makes enough so that you don't need to get more from the foods you eat.
