For years, you’ve been told that high-cholesterol foods can cause heart disease.
However, many recent studies have shown that this isn’t true (1).
Most of the cholesterol in your blood is produced by your liver. When you eat foods high in cholesterol, your liver produces less (2).
For this reason, cholesterol in the diet has only minor effects on cholesterol in the blood (3).
What’s more, many foods high in cholesterol are also among the healthiest and most nutritious foods on the planet.
Here are 7 high-cholesterol foods that are actually super healthy.
1. Cheese
Cheese is a tasty, filling, nutrient-dense food.
One ounce of cheese provides 27 mg of cholesterol, which is relatively high.
However, cheese is also loaded with other nutrients. For example, an ounce of cheese has 7 grams of quality protein and provides 20% of the RDI for calcium (5).
Despite also being high in saturated fat, research suggests that it may improve heart health (6, 7).
High-protein, low-carb dairy foods like cheese may also help decrease body fat, increase muscle mass and reduce tooth decay (8, 9).
2. Eggs
Eggs are definitely among the most nutritious foods on earth.
They also provide 13 grams of protein, 46% of the RDI for selenium, as well as good amounts of riboflavin, vitamin B12 and choline (10).
Unfortunately, some people throw out the cholesterol-rich yolk and eat only the egg white. This is generally due to a misguided fear of the cholesterol in the yolk.
However, the yolk is by far the most nutritious part of the egg. It provides almost all the nutrients, while the white is mostly protein.
In addition, egg yolks contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which provide protection from eye disorders like cataracts and macular degeneration (11, 12).
Eating whole eggs may actually reduce your risk of heart disease by modifying the LDL cholesterol in your blood (13, 14).
3. Liver
Liver is a nutrition powerhouse.
It’s also rich in cholesterol, regardless of the animal source.
For instance, a 100-gram (3.5 ounce) serving of beef liver contains 396 mg of cholesterol.
This serving also provides 28 grams of protein and is rich in many vitamins and minerals. In fact, it contains more than 600% of the RDI for vitamin A and more than 1,000% of the RDI for vitamin B12 (17).
It also provides 38% of the RDI for iron. What’s more, this is the heme form of iron that is most easily absorbed (18).
In addition, one serving of beef liver contains 426 mg of choline, an important nutrient that helps protect the health of your brain, heart, liver and muscles (19, 20, 21).
Along with whole eggs, liver is actually among the world’s best sources of choline. This is important because most people don’t get enough of this nutrient (20, 22).
4. Shellfish
Shellfish are delicious and nourishing foods.
Some of the most popular types include shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, clams and scallops.
Interestingly, shellfish is low in fat yet high in cholesterol.
For example, a 100-gram (3.5 ounce) portion of shrimp contains 195 mg of cholesterol and only 1 gram of fat.
It’s also a great protein source and very high in niacin, vitamin B12 and iron (23).
One serving of most types of shellfish also provides more than 50% of the RDI for selenium, a mineral that reduces inflammation and may decrease the risk of prostate cancer (24, 25).
In addition, shellfish is one of the best sources of iodine, which is crucial for proper brain and thyroid function. Research has shown that many people are at risk of iodine deficiency, particularly women and children (26, 27).
5. Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil delivers amazing health benefits in a concentrated form.
Just one tablespoon has 77 mg of cholesterol. It also contains 270% of the RDI for vitamin A and 338% of the RDI for vitamin D (28).
Cod liver oil is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and have various other benefits (29).
What’s more, some researchers have suggested that vitamin D and omega-3 fats may work together to protect against cancer (30).
Cod liver oil has also been shown to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain (31, 32).
6. Other Organ Meats
Although liver is the most popular organ meat, others are also consumed.
Some other common types include kidneys, heart and brain.
Like shellfish, most organ meat is high in cholesterol and low in fat.
For instance, a 100-gram (3.5 ounce) serving of lamb kidneys contains 337 mg of cholesterol and only 3 grams of fat (33).
Organ meat is also rich in several vitamins and minerals, including the B vitamins, selenium and iron. In fact, one serving of kidneys provides a whopping 874% of the RDI for vitamin B12 and 181% of the RDI for selenium.
In addition, heart meat is very high in CoQ10, which may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and heart failure. CoQ10 may also reduce the muscle pain related to cholesterol-lowering statin drugs (34, 35, 36).
7. Sardines
Sardines are a true superfood.
They’re also higher in cholesterol than many people realize. A 100-gram (3.5 ounce) serving of sardines contains 142 mg of cholesterol.
One serving of sardines provides 25 grams of protein, 68% of the RDI for vitamin D, 38% of the RDI for calcium and 75% of the RDI for selenium (37).
It also contains 1,480 mg of omega-3 fatty acids. These have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and protecting brain health (38, 39, 40).
Omega-3 fats may also be helpful for people with depression. In one 12-week study, 69% of patients who took the omega-3 fat EPA on a daily basis reported a reduction in symptoms of depression (41).
Take Home Message
Dietary cholesterol has only minimal effects on blood cholesterol. More importantly, it has absolutely no link with the risk of heart disease.
The truth is that most of the foods that are high in cholesterol are also super healthy and nutritious.
These foods should be embraced, not feared.
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