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Cholesterol Vs. Calories

Maintaining cholesterol and calorie levels are both important to staying healthy. Understanding the types of cholesterol and the importance of calories will help you get to (or stay at) your desired target weight.

  1. Calories Explained

    • A calorie is a unit of energy that your body needs to sustain life. There are 4 calories in a gram of protein and carbohydrates and 9 calories in a gram of fat. Eating too many calories leads to weight gain.

    Good Cholesterol

    • HDL or "good" cholesterol can help prevent heart conditions like a heart attack. HDL removes excess cholesterol from the arteries, which is why it's "good." Current guidelines suggest maintaining HDL levels above 40 mg/dL for optimal health.

    Bad Cholesterol

    • LDL or "bad" cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries, which leads to a variety of negative health consequences. Optimal LDL levels are less than 100 mg/dL.

    Choose the Right Foods

    • Choosing the right foods can help keep your cholesterol levels and caloric intake in check. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats and avoid refined grains, added sugars, saturated fats and trans fats. When eating meat, choose lean source like fish and chicken over beef and pork.

    Calories vs. Cholesterol

    • Calories and cholesterol are both important to achieving good health. Many people disagree on which is more important but keep in mind excessive calories, not cholesterol, is what leads to weight gain. So keeping your caloric intake under control and eating healthy foods will normally help you control your cholesterol levels as well.

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