Foods High in Cholesterol & Saturated Fat

by Christine Lehman

Overview

Many health problems are associated with a diet containing too much cholesterol. By reducing your intake of cholesterol and saturated fats, you can reduce the levels of cholesterol in your bloodstream and reduce your risk of heart disease. There are small groups of food that contain high cholesterol, and learning what these are can help you cut them out of your diet.
Animal By-Products

As a general rule, foods coming from animals have higher saturated fat contents.

Vegetarian Sources

Even though they eat no animal products, vegetarians can have high cholesterol diets containing a lot of saturated fats. Coconut oils, palm oils, and many processed foods like cookies and cakes can have high saturated fat contents.
Beef and Pork

Lean meats like venison and chicken have less cholesterol and saturated fat than fattier meats like beef and pork.
Milk Products

Whole milk and whole milk products such as ice cream and cheese contain a lot of saturated fats and can raise cholesterol.
Eggs

A single boiled egg can contain as much cholesterol as 3 oz. of butter, or nearly 10 times as much as 1 oz. of cream cheese (although eggs are much more nutritious).
Organ Meats

Organ meats such as kidneys and livers are higher in saturated fats and cholesterol than more common cuts of meat.

Overview