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What Is a Healthy Amount of Cholesterol Per Day?

Cholesterol is a vital part of a healthy human body. However, food companies are scrambling to claim their product is “low-cholesterol," as too much may lead to heart disease. This leaves us asking what is a healthy amount of cholesterol?

  1. What is cholesterol?

    • Cholesterol is a fat-like substance naturally found in the body. Your body produces 75 percent of its cholesterol. The rest comes from food.

    Functions

    • Its primary functions include the production of cell membranes and many hormones (such as testosterone).

    Where is it?

    • Only animal-derived foods contain cholesterol, such as meat, eggs, milk, cheese and butter. However, an animal-free diet isn’t entirely safe from high cholesterol. Saturated and trans fats increase cholesterol production, and these fats can be lurking in any food category.

    Guidelines to follow

    • The American Heart Association recommends less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. If you have high LDL (bad) cholesterol, aim for less than 200 mg per day.

    Heart Healthy Diet

    • Additionally, aim for a high-fiber diet that is low in saturated and trans fats by choosing a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and lean meats.

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