Cholesterol Facts #1: LDL and HDL Cholesterol

1. Our bodies synthesise (make) enough of both types of cholesterol for our needs and there is no actual need to consume any cholesterol in our diet
2. Small amounts of both LDL (known commonly as bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol are essential for our bodies for cell health
3. Typically high levels of LDL are found in our blood when we are overweight and/or have an unhealthy diet
4. Both types of cholesterol are found only in food products containing animal fats but the following is a list of foods particularly high in LDL (bad) cholesterol:

• animal meat (especially with high levels of fat)
• processed meats such as salami and sausages
• foods cooked in animal fat - most fast foods, hot chips, etc
• cheese and eggs
• shellfish & prawns
• cake, baked desserts and bread
• butter, cream, milk

Most of the above foods can be eaten in moderation - except for fast foods, cake and desserts and cream which are best kept to a minimum as occasional treats.

And the food with the highest amount of cholesterol content? Lambs Brains!!