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The Curious Bag
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Cholesterol is produced by the liver, but many people also get cholesterol from the foods they eat. The American Heart Association considers blood cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL as a potential health hazard.
Types
There are two main types of cholesterol in the body that are affected by diet. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, is dangerous in high levels. HDL, or "good" cholesterol, helps to counteract some of the damage of bad cholesterol.
Sources
Any food that comes from animal products, including meats, fish, chicken, eggs, milk and other dairy products contains cholesterol.
Foods That Raise LDL
Foods that contain trans fats and saturated fats raise LDL levels in the blood. These types of food include baked goods, fried foods, coconut and palm oil and any food that lists hydrogenated oil as an ingredient.
Foods That Raise HDL
High levels of HDL increase your total cholesterol count but improve your overall cholesterol by lowering the ratio of LDL in your blood. Foods with monounsaturated fats like nuts and olive oil, as well as foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids---especially fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel---raise HDL levels.
Expert Insight
The American Heart Association recommends healthy people get less than 300mg of cholesterol in their diet each day. People with high cholesterol levels should take in fewer than 200mg.
Source
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