Avoiding Food Triggers

Lesson 3 · 6.5 min

Working to lower your cholesterol does not have to mean depriving yourself of all of the foods you love. In fact, no food needs to be totally off your list. There are, of course, some foods worth limiting (and others worth avoiding) depending on how much lower you want your numbers to go.

Animal fat and sugar top the list of things to be careful about eating. These foods not only raise your cholesterol levels but also promote weight gain and increase your risk for diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Fast fact

Meat, eggs, refined grain products (bread, cereal, etc.), and milk are the highest food sources of cholesterol in the American diet. They account for 96 percent of our total cholesterol intake. Lean meat, eggs, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free milk can be part of a healthy diet, but in moderation.

Let’s look at some of the foods that could negatively affect your cholesterol numbers, and why they’re worth leaving off your shopping list.