Why you don't need to fear foods with cholesterol

For so long we were told to fear eating foods high in cholesterol. We’re told to give up egg yolks when in fact we’re missing out on key nutrients from the yolk like selenium and choline (these are important for brain function).

So, what is cholesterol and why should we not fear it?

Simply put: cholesterol is a type of fat only found in animal foods, but our bodies also make its own cholesterol (thanks to our liver). This is because it's important for the precursor of things like cell membranes, hormones and vitamin D.

Contrary to popular belief, foods that are high in cholesterol do NOT affect the general population's blood levels of cholesterol. One reason is that your body has mechanisms for balancing the amount of cholesterol if you take in too much from food. Another reason is that your body ends up making more cholesterol than what you would get from foods anyway. However, some people may be more sensitive to these foods in which case I would say work with a professional.

So if foods that are inherently high in cholesterol don’t raise levels, then what does? Here are some foods to watch out for if you are concerned about your levels:

1.   Inflammatory plant oils (canola, sunflower, safflower)

2.   Sugar

3.   Fried foods

4.   Trans fats or processed foods

Some simple ways to lower cholesterol levels:

1.   Aerobic exercise

2.   Omega-3 supplement

3.   Soluble fiber