Nutrients -> Fatty acids -> Sterols

Cholesterol Foods high in cholesterol and how much you need · Sterols

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. It is essential for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest foods. The body manufactures cholesterol, but it is also obtained from animal-based foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream in lipoproteins, which are classified as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Most in a serving: Beef, brain

There's no official daily target for cholesterol.

Plant foods have little cholesterol, so it comes mostly from animal foods. The richest are beef, brain; egg yolk and crayfish.

Top sources

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Knowing where cholesterol comes from is one part of the puzzle. Nutriely adds it up across your day against your own targets, shows which foods it came from and how it fits with every other nutrient.

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Foods highest in cholesterol

Ranked from 659 foods in our catalog, one entry per food.

1

Beef, brain, cooked, simmered 2,635 mg

serving (85 g) · Offal dishes
2

Veal, brain, cooked, braised 2,635 mg

serving (85 g) · Offal dishes
3

Pork, brain, raw 1,866 mg

serving (85 g) · Offal dishes
4

Egg, duck, whole, fresh, raw 619 mg

egg (70 g) · Chicken and other birds
5

Egg yolk, fried 215 mg

large (17 g) · Egg
6

Crayfish 204 mg

serving (110 g) · Crustaceans and molluscs
7

Steak tartare 160 mg

serving (110 g) · Steaks and chops
8

Shrimp 156 mg

serving (110 g) · Crustaceans and molluscs
9

European sprat 121 mg

serving (110 g) · Fish
10

Chicken strips 114 mg

medium portion (200 g) · Chicken and other birds
11

Chicken with skin, grilled without added fat 112 mg

serving (85 g) · Chicken and other birds
12

Opossum, cooked, roasted 110 mg

serving (85 g) · Steaks and chops
13

Egg yolk powder 107 mg

tbsp (4 g) · Egg
14

Antelope, cooked, roasted 107 mg

serving (85 g) · Steaks and chops
15

Lobster 105 mg

serving (110 g) · Crustaceans and molluscs
16

Perch 101 mg

serving (110 g) · Fish
17

Zander, pike-perch 86.9 mg

serving (110 g) · Fish
18

Egg powder 72 mg

tbsp (5 g) · Egg
19

Redfish, rosefish, frozen 71.7 mg

serving (110 g) · Fish products
20

Caviar, dark roe of sturgeon 65.4 mg

tbsp (16 g) · Fish products
21

Roe, average, salted 61.4 mg

serving (15 g) · Fish products
22

Cheese, mexican, queso cotija 55 mg

serving (55 g) · Cheese, ripened cheese
23

Chicken nuggets, deep-fried, lactose-free 51.9 mg

serving (85 g) · Poultry dishes
24

Pork and beef, canned 43.9 mg

serving (85 g) · Meat products
25

Sauteed elk 43.2 mg

serving (85 g) · Meat dishes
26

Yoghurt, turkish/greek, 10% fat 39.4 mg

serving (170 g) · Yoghurt
27

Salami 38.1 mg

serving (55 g) · Cold cuts, sausages
28

Chorizo, fried without fat 35.1 mg

serving (55 g) · Sausages
29

Milk, 3.5% fat 33.9 mg

cup (244 g) · Milks >2% fat
30

Processed cheese, 20-24% fat 32.7 mg

serving (55 g) · Processed cheese
31

Cream cheese, 34% fat 30.3 mg

serving (30 g) · Cheese, unripened, fresh cheese
32

Curd milk, plain, 3.5% fat 28.1 mg

serving (240 g) · Cultured milks
33

Cream, 25% fat 27 mg

medium portion (50 g) · Cream
34

Parma ham, 15% fat 26.7 mg

serving (55 g) · Cold cuts, meat
35

Butter lactose-free 26.7 mg

tbsp (15 g) · Butter, milk fat
36

Cream quark, 10% fat 26.5 mg

serving (110 g) · Quark
37

Butter, salted 25.3 mg

tbsp (14.2 g) · Butter, milk fat
38

Sour cream, 40% fat 24.5 mg

serving (30 g) · Fermented milk products, other
39

Spinach spaghetti, boiled 24.2 mg

serving (140 g) · Pasta
40

Whipping cream, 38% fat, low-lactose, ultra-heat-treated 23.1 mg

serving (30 g) · Cream
41

Beestings, colostrum 23 mg

medium portion (200 g) · Milks >2% fat
42

Butter oil, milk fat 22.8 mg

tbsp (12.8 g) · Butter, milk fat
43

Frankfurter, fried without fat 22.3 mg

serving (55 g) · Sausages
44

Skyr, plain, 4% fat 21.7 mg

serving (170 g) · Quark
45

Whipped cream, unsweetened 21.3 mg

serving (30 g) · Cream
46

Turkey cold cuts 21.1 mg

serving (55 g) · Cold cuts, meat
47

Croissant, home-made 20.2 mg

serving (55 g) · Savoury bakery
48

Sour milk, acidophilus bifidus, 2% fat, probiotics 18.4 mg

serving (240 g) · Soured milks
49

Creme fraiche, 28% fat 17.1 mg

serving (30 g) · Fermented milk products, other
50

Cottage cheese, 4% fat 17 mg

serving (100 g) · Cheese, unripened, fresh cheese

Learn about cholesterol

What does cholesterol do for the body?

Cholesterol is essential for building cell membranes, producing hormones, and creating vitamin D. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the body's cells and is necessary for overall health. However, it's important to maintain a balance, as high levels of cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease.

How much cholesterol do I need?

The body produces all the cholesterol it needs, so there is no recommended intake for dietary cholesterol. However, it's important to limit intake of saturated and trans fats, as these can increase cholesterol levels in the blood.

What are the health benefits of cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes and is crucial for the production of hormones and vitamin D. It also helps in the digestion of fats and is involved in the formation of bile acids. However, it is important to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the body to prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

What are the health risks associated with high cholesterol?

High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can restrict blood flow to the heart and brain, leading to serious health issues.

Can cholesterol be harmful?

Cholesterol can be harmful when levels in the blood are elevated. High levels of cholesterol can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. It's important to maintain healthy cholesterol levels through a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

What if your cholesterol is low?

If your cholesterol is low, it could be due to various reasons such as malnutrition, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, or an underlying genetic condition. It's important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and address any potential health concerns.

How do vegans get their cholesterol intake?

Vegans do not consume cholesterol as it is only found in animal products. Instead, they rely on plant-based foods which are naturally cholesterol-free. The human body produces its own cholesterol, therefore, vegans maintain necessary cholesterol levels through internal production.

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