Facts

• Cholesterol is one of the major fats, or lipids, found in the blood. There are two sources of cholesterol: it is made in the liver and it also comes from food. The body uses cholesterol to build and maintain cell membranes and hormones. High cholesterol, a total cholesterol count above 240, is considered a health risk and has been linked to heart disease.
  
  

Diet and cholesterol

• According to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College website, high cholesterol is often the result of a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends people keep dietary cholesterol consumption to less than 300 mg. per day and limit total fat intake to 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories. Saturated fat consumption should not exceed 7 percent of your daily caloric intake and trans fat should be less than 1 percent of your diet. Heart health and a reasonable cholesterol level are often achieved by avoiding not only foods high in cholesterol, but also those high in saturated fat. In fact, foods high in saturated fat can increase cholesterol more than foods high in cholesterol, such as eggs.
  
  

Foods to avoid

• The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine Web site recommends that those with high cholesterol avoid food such as whole eggs, liver, lunch meats high in saturated fats, shellfish, fried foods, and desserts high in fats. Rutgers Health Services also encourages people to reduce intake of prepared baked goods and processed snacks and to avoid common culprits high in saturated fat such as bacon, sausage, butter, ice cream, and hot dogs. The way food is prepared is crucial in limiting saturated fats. Remove excess fat from meats and the skin from chicken before preparing them. Reading labels also can keep you from eating foods that raise cholesterol. Main sources of saturated fat include butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, coconut milk, and coconut oil. To limit trans fat, avoid foods with ingredients such as vegetable shortening, margarine, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
  
  

Substitutes

• Steps can be taken in the kitchen to help those wishing to lower their cholesterol. Instead of whole eggs, try egg whites in recipes. When baking, substitute applesauce for oil. Try skim milk in cereal and eat low-fat dairy products.
  
  

Other causes of high cholesterol

• Diet, however, is not the only cause of high cholesterol. Being overweight is often correlated with high cholesterol. Certain prescription medications may also increase cholesterol, and high cholesterol may be caused by inherited genetic disorders. Speak to your doctor to determine the best course of treatment.