Foods that have a lot of cholesterol

Last Updated: September 26th, 2022

Cholesterol is a steroid lipid (fat) present in the blood, necessary for the proper functioning of cell membranes and the production of vitamin D and certain hormones.

Cholesterol deficiency is rare, as our bodies manufacture the cholesterol we need. High cholesterol levels, on the other hand, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

When we consume foods rich in cholesterol, our bodies tend to reduce the production of cholesterol in response, in an attempt to keep levels stable. A diet high in total fat, saturated fat, processed trans fats, and low in fiber, along with being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, and high alcohol consumption is believed to lead to high cholesterol. There are also certain genes that cause people to have raised cholesterol.

Consumption of cholesterol in foods is therefore not the main factor, but there may be certain groups of people who are sensitive to dietary cholesterol. (2)

High cholesterol foods include fast foods, liver, fatty meats, canned shrimp, desserts, eggs, whipped cream, bacon, cheese, and butter. The current daily value (DV) for cholesterol is 300mg.

Below is a list of high cholesterol foods. To lower your cholesterol, read the article on cholesterol lowering foods, and foods to avoid for a healthy heart.

• Introduction
• List of Foods Highest in Cholesterol
• Printable
• High Risk Groups for High Blood Cholesterol
• About the Daily Value (%DV) Target
• About the Data
•  Nutrient Ranking Tool
• Related
• Feedback
• References

See All 200 Foods High in Cholesterol

Printable One Page Sheet

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About the Data

Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.

You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.

Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

About Nutrient Targets

Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.

Some of the most popular targets include:

• Daily Value (%DV) - The %DV is a general guideline for everyone and accounts for absorption factors. It is the most common target in the U.S. and is the target on the nutrition labels of most products. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
• Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) - The Reference Dietary Intake (RDI) is a customized target accounting for age and gender. It is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization. The daily value (%DV) builds on the reference dietary intake to create a number for everyone.
• Adequate Intake (%AI) - Sets a target for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. The Adequate Intake is also set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. It represents a number to ensure adequacy but lacks the same level of evidence as the Reference Dietary Intake. In short, the number is less accurate than the RDI.

See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.

Want to set your own targets? Sign up for an account and set custom targets in the daily meal planner.

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