8 Foods To Lower Cholesterol
8 Foods To Lower Cholesterol Cholesterol is an important fat-like substance used to make hormones (such as vitamin D), build healthy cells, and digest food. Dietary cholesterol, i.e. cholesterol from food, is found only in products of animal origin (ie meat, dairy milk, eggs, etc.). Dietary cholesterol is not necessary for your health because the liver makes all the cholesterol it needs on its own. So if you're vegan, don't worry! Traditionally, LDL cholesterol is referred to as "bad" cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is referred to as "good" cholesterol. A total cholesterol level of less than or equal to 200 mg/dl and an LDL level of less than or equal to 100 mg/dl is considered optimal. If you consume foods of animal origin, it is a good idea not to take in more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. In general, a total cholesterol level above 240 mg/dL is considered high. If you have high cholesterol or want to prevent its excessive increase, include the ...