Foods to Avoid for High Cholesterol
- Limit saturated fats and oils, such as butter,
bacon drippings, lard, palm oil, and coconut oil. Instead, use soft tub margarine or
vegetable oils, such as olive or canola oil.
- Avoid trans fats or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. These oils go through a process that makes them solid. They're found in some hard margarines, snack crackers, cookies, chips, and
shortenings.
- Limit fatty meats such as corned beef, pastrami, ribs, steak,
ground meat, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, and processed meats like bologna.
Also limit organ meats like liver and kidney. Replace
with skinless chicken or turkey, lean beef, veal, pork, lamb, and fish. Try some
meatless main dishes, like beans, peas, pasta, or rice.
- Limit meat, poultry, and fish to
no more than
two servings, or 5 oz (140 g), a
day. Remember that a serving is
about the size of a deck of playing cards.
- Limit egg yolks.
- Limit milk products that contain more than 1% milk fat. This includes cream, most cheeses, and nondairy coffee creamers or whipped topping (which
often contain coconut or palm oils). Instead try fat-free or low-fat milk (0%
to 1% fat) and low-fat cheeses.
- Limit snack crackers, muffins, quick breads, croissants, and
cakes made with saturated or hydrogenated fat, whole eggs, or whole
milk. Try low-fat baked goods, and use any spreads
or toppings lightly.
- Instead of using butter or margarine on bread, try dipping
it in olive oil.
- Avoid fast foods like hamburgers, fries,
fried chicken, and tacos. They are high in both total fat and saturated fat.
When you eat out, choose broiled sandwiches or chicken without skin, salads
with low-fat dressing, and foods that aren't fried. Ask the server to leave off
the cheese and high-fat dressings like mayonnaise.
For help changing your diet, ask your doctor or a
dietitian.
References
Other Works Consulted
Krummel DA (2008). Medical nutrition therapy for
cardiovascular disease. In LK Mahan, S Escott-Stump, eds., Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy, 12th ed., pp. 833–864.
St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator |
| Last Revised | June 18, 2012 |