Dietary Recommendations For Controlling Cholesterol

* Limit your intake of dietary cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol can raise your blood cholesterol level. According to recent national nutrition surveys, the average American man gets about 337 milligrams of cholesterol a day from food – the average woman, about 217 milligrams. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit cholesterol from food to an average of no more than 300 milligrams per day (note: people with coronary heart disease should limit their intake to under 200 miligrams per day).

* Limit your intake of saturated fat and trans fatty acids
Saturated fat, trans fatty acids and dietary cholesterol raise blood cholesterol, but monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats don't (some studies suggest that they might even help lower LDL cholesterol slightly). It is important to "know your fats"!

The chart below summarizes the limitation we should place
on our consumption of dietary cholesterol and fats

Total Fat

Saturated Fat

Cholesterol

People without coronary heart disease

25-35% or less of total calories

Less than 7% of total calories

Less than 300 mg per day

People with coronary heart disease

25-35% or less of total calories

Less than 7% of total calories

Less than 200 mg per day