High cholesterol diet: Five foods with the most cholesterol to avoid – are you at risk?

High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips

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High cholesterol is very common, but it’s not always easy to know if you’re at risk. One of the main causes of the condition is eating certain foods. Which foods should you cut down on?

Cholesterol is a type of waxy substance that’s found in the blood.

It’s used by the body to manufacture new cells – but there can be too much of a good thing.

Large amounts of cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in the blood vessels.

As these deposits continue to grow, it can make blood flow increasingly difficult, sparking the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

To lower your cholesterol levels, you should consider cutting back on certain fatty foods.

Foods that contain unsaturated fats aren’t to be concerned about – it’s saturated fats that you should watch out for.

You can check on food labels to see whether they contain saturated or unsaturated fats.

One of the worst foods for cholesterol is liver, according to nutritionist Daisy Whitbread.

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Most organ meats are high in cholesterol and should be limited, she warned.

But, liver in particular contains the most cholesterol – roughly 493mg per 100g.

Eggs should also be eaten in moderation, or as part of a balanced diet.

They contain about 373mg of cholesterol for every 100g, and people with high cholesterol should definitely try to cut back on the number of eggs they eat, said Whitbread.

“When we consume foods rich in cholesterol, our bodies tend to reduce the production of cholesterol in response, in an attempt to keep levels stable,” she wrote for medical website MyFoodData.

“A diet high in total fat, saturated fat, processed trans fats and low in fibre, along with being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking and high alcohol consumption is believed to lead to high cholesterol.

“There are also certain genes that cause people to have raised cholesterol.

“High cholesterol foods include fast foods, liver, fatty meats, canned shrimp, desserts, eggs, whipped cream, bacon, cheese, and butter.”

Foods with the highest cholesterol

1. Liver – 493mg per 100g

2. Eggs – 373mg per 100g

3. Roasted chicken leg – 328mg per 100g

4. Canned shrimp – 323mg per 100g

5. Butter – 215mg per 100g

Left undiagnosed, high cholesterol can lead to coronary heart disease, artery disease, and even sudden cardiac arrest.

While it’s difficult to know if you’re at risk, there are still some hidden signs to look out for.

For example, some patients might develop a type of lesion on their skin, which is synonymous with high cholesterol.

These bumps, which are also known as xanthomas, often appear quite waxy, and they might be a yellow/orange colour.

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