Foods high in Cholesterol
Waxy lipid found in animal-derived foods. Dietary cholesterol has a smaller effect on blood cholesterol than saturated fat for most people.
About Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy lipid the body uses to build cell membranes, sex and stress hormones (oestrogen, testosterone, cortisol), bile acids, and vitamin D. The liver makes most of what the body needs, dietary intake supplements it but doesn't replace it.
Cholesterol is only found in animal foods. Egg yolks, organ meats, and shellfish are the densest. Plant foods contain zero cholesterol (despite some packaging implying otherwise, "cholesterol-free vegetable oil" is a true but meaningless claim).
For most people, dietary cholesterol has only a small effect on blood cholesterol, saturated fat in the diet has a larger one. People with familial hypercholesterolaemia, type 2 diabetes, or certain genetic variants may respond more strongly to dietary cholesterol and benefit from limiting it.
Foods high in cholesterol, veal, beef, beef, and more
Ranked by how much you get per calorie, so foods are not rewarded for simply being dry or concentrated. Values from USDA FoodData Central, McCance & Widdowson's CoFID, ANSES Ciqual, and other public nutrition databases. Amounts in milligrams.
Per calorie is the default here because it answers what to eat: ranked purely by amount, a list of the richest foods fills up with dried and concentrated things nobody eats a plateful of. Switch to per 100 grams above if concentration is what you are after. Our foods low in cholesterol list is measured per 100 grams instead, and that is deliberate too: per calorie would reward a food for carrying plenty of energy and none of the nutrient, which puts cooking oil below lettuce on a low-sodium list.
- Veal, variety meats and by-products, brain, cooked, braised 2,279.41mg per 100 grams
- Beef, variety meats and by-products, brain, raw 2,104.9mg per 100 grams
- Beef, variety meats and by-products, brain, cooked, simmered 2,052.98mg per 100 grams
- Brains 2,050mg per 100 grams
- Pork, fresh, variety meats and by-products, brain, cooked, braised 1,849.28mg per 100 grams
- Lamb, New Zealand, imported, brains, raw 1,779.66mg per 100 grams
- Brain, lamb, boiled 1,746.03mg per 100 grams
- Pork, fresh, variety meats and by-products, brain, raw 1,728.35mg per 100 grams
- Lamb, New Zealand, imported, brains, cooked, soaked and fried 1,661.69mg per 100 grams
- Lamb, variety meats and by-products, brain, cooked, braised 1,408.97mg per 100 grams
- Lamb, brain, cooked 1,396.64mg per 100 grams
- Veal, variety meats and by-products, brain, raw 1,347.46mg per 100 grams
Common questions about Cholesterol
- Does dietary cholesterol raise blood cholesterol?
- For most people, only modestly. Saturated fat has a larger effect. People with familial hypercholesterolaemia or certain genetic variants may respond more strongly.
- What foods contain cholesterol?
- Only animal foods. Egg yolks, organ meats, and shellfish are the densest. Plant foods contain none.
- Should I avoid eggs?
- For most people, eating eggs in moderation is fine, current UK guidance has no specific limit. People with high cholesterol or diabetes may want to discuss intake with their doctor.
- What's the difference between LDL and HDL?
- LDL (often called "bad") cholesterol delivers cholesterol to tissues; high levels are linked to artery damage. HDL ("good") cholesterol returns excess cholesterol to the liver for recycling.