Cholesterol Food Chart

The term cholesterol refers to a waxy steroid metabolite, that is found in the cell membranes of all the mammals. Apart from the cell membranes, cholesterol is also found in the blood plasma of all the mammals. There are two types of cholesterol, namely the LDL cholesterol and the HDL cholesterol.

Types of Cholesterol

Before we begin, it is extremely essential to get to know the meaning of LDL and HDL cholesterol.

• LDL Cholesterol: The LDL cholesterol or the low-density lipoproteins, are often referred to as the 'bad' cholesterol. This is due to the fact that this cholesterol if consumed in excess quantities, gets deposited on the inner wall of the arteries and veins, which is very unhealthy for the respiratory systems, especially for the heart. It is true that the over consumption of LDL cholesterol is not at all healthy, however, it should be consumed in small and prescribed quantities, as it is a necessity of the human body.
• HDL Cholesterol: The HDL cholesterol contains high-density lipoproteins cholesterol and is regarded as the 'good' cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is a very healthy cholesterol and plays a highly instrumental role in reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol that is present in the plasma.

The cholesterol in any form HDL or LDL when consumed in excess quantities is definitely harmful for health. However, at the same time, zero consumption of cholesterol or very low consumption of HDL or LDL cholesterol is not very healthy.

Cholesterol Food Chart

In order to help the people consume both types of cholesterol, several governmental agencies and medical practitioners release different types of food charts, that are based upon the food products that we eat. Such food charts also help people to balance out their diets on the basis of the nutrients such as carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and minerals, that can be consumed. The United States Department of Agriculture, frequently releases different types of charts, that indicate the different levels of cholesterol in food items. The amount of cholesterol in a particular food item is expressed in the terms of milligrams per 100 grams of the food item.

High Cholesterol Foods
Cholesterol is an essential nutrient which is derived principally from saturated fat. As mentioned above, cholesterol when consumed in excess quantities is not healthy. The following chart depicts some of the high cholesterol foods that should be consumed in small quantities and at a less frequency.

Food Item	Category	Cholesterol (in milligrams, per 100 grams)
Lemon Meringue Pie	Bakery Product	90
Sponge Pudding	Bakery Product	80
Poached Eggs	Eggs	480
Boiled Eggs	Eggs	450
Salted Butter	Oils and Fats	250
Lard	Oils and Fats	95
Cod Fish	Fish	500
Steamed Whiting	Fish	110
Salami	Meat	80
Chicken	Meat	90

Low Cholesterol Foods
There are many food items that have a comparatively low amount of cholesterol. The low cholesterol diet food are extremely essential for the body. Medical practitioners often recommend the intake of such foods.

Food Item	Category	Cholesterol (in milligrams, per 100 grams)
Bread	Bakery Product	1
Scones	Bakery Product	5
Egg Omelet	Eggs	410
Scrambled Eggs	Eggs	410
Margarine	Oils and Fats	5
Dripping	Oils and Fats	95
Scallops	Fish	30
Oysters	Fish	40
Hamburger	Meat	35
Irish Stew	Meat	35

It must be noted that all types of cheese and fat have a large amount of cholesterol in them. Hence, it is always advisable to have a restricted and standardized intake of these food products. Vegetables and fruits contain almost no amount of cholesterol. Hence, the best way is to have a good cholesterol foods on your menu. It is recommended to club low cholesterol foods with meager quantities of high cholesterol foods.