What Is the Daily Allowance for Cholesterol?

Because of the negative perception surrounding it, many people don't know that the body actually needs cholesterol to function---but only a small amount. The problem is that many people take in far too much cholesterol, which can be harmful to one's health. It's important to understand the role of cholesterol in the body, where it is found and how much a healthy body needs on a daily basis.

What Is Cholesterol and Where Does It Come From?

Cholesterol is a wax-like product found in your bloodstream and cells of your body. Your body uses cholesterol to create cell membranes and certain hormones. It comes from two sources: your liver, which produces cholesterol, and the foods you eat. When we consume cholesterol-containing foods, the cholesterol enters our bodies and is absorbed into the bloodstream, which is why blood is drawn to check cholesterol levels.

What Foods Contain Cholesterol?

Dietary cholesterol comes from the foods we consume. Not all food has cholesterol. Foods from plants, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains, contain no cholesterol. Foods from animals do contain cholesterol, including red meats, poultry, shellfish, dairy products (except fat-free varieties) and egg yolks.

What Foods Contain the Most Cholesterol?

Fatty meats, such as beef, pork and duck (especially when skin or drippings are eaten) are high in dietary cholesterol, as are processed meats such as bacon, sausage and bologna; lard; egg yolks; butter and whole-milk dairy products, such as cheese; ice cream; and sour cream.

What Are Recommended Cholesterol Levels?

The American Heart Association has set guidelines for our recommended total cholesterol levels. The levels are (expressed as milligrams of cholesterol per deciliters of blood) are as follows:

Less than 200 mg/dL: This is a desirable level that puts you at lower risk for coronary heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher increases your risk.

200 to 239 mg/dL: Borderline high. If your cholesterol level is between these two numbers, it is higher than the optimal level of 200mg/dL, and your risk of heart disease is increased.

240 mg/dL and higher: High blood cholesterol. This is a high level of cholesterol that more than doubles the risk of heart disease compared to someone whose cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL.

How Much Cholesterol Do I Need Daily?

An important fact to know is that your liver produces most (if not all) of your daily cholesterol needs, so you need to consume little or no cholesterol to meet your daily requirement. The American Heart Association has established the recommended average daily intake of no more than 300 mg.

Having your blood checked regularly to determine your cholesterol level is the best way to way to know how much cholesterol is in your system, so you can take steps to regulate the amount if it is not at the recommended level.

References

• American Heart Association
• WebMD: Cholesterol