Blood Cholesterol versus Dietary Cholesterol

A.  Blood cholesterol is that which your body makes, while dietary cholesterol is that which you consume through food. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, which is why it’s important to limit your dietary consumption of foods high in cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat. In fact, about 85% of your blood cholesterol is produced by your body. The other 15% of cholesterol in your blood comes from your diet – typically from foods such as red meat, egg yolks and dairy products such as butter, cream and whole milk.

When you consume too much cholesterol, saturated fat or trans fat in your diet, it can raise your blood cholesterol level. The higher your blood cholesterol is, the greater your risk for heart disease. High levels of blood cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in your blood vessels and lead to heart attack or stroke.

According to the American Heart Association, you should limit your daily intake of cholesterol to less than 300 mg a day. Those who already have high cholesterol or are at risk for heart disease should limit cholesterol to less than 200 milligrams daily. Learn how to lower your cholesterol >>