Top 10 Foods Highest in Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a steroid lipid (fat) present in the blood, necessary for the proper functioning of cell membranes and the production of vitamin D and certain hormones.
Cholesterol deficiency is rare, as our bodies manufacture the cholesterol we need. High cholesterol levels, on the other hand, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
When we consume foods rich in cholesterol, our bodies tend to reduce the production of cholesterol in response, in an attempt to keep levels stable. A diet high in total fat, saturated fat, processed trans fats, and low in fiber, along with being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, and high alcohol consumption is believed to lead to high cholesterol. There are also certain genes that cause people to have raised cholesterol.
Consumption of cholesterol in foods is therefore not the main factor, but there may be certain groups of people who are sensitive to dietary cholesterol. (2)
High cholesterol foods include fast foods, liver, fatty meats, canned shrimp, desserts, eggs, whipped cream, bacon, cheese, and butter. The current daily value (DV) for cholesterol is 300mg.
Below is a list of high cholesterol foods. To lower your cholesterol, read the article on cholesterol lowering foods, and foods to avoid for a healthy heart.
List of Foods Highest in Cholesterol
#1: Fast Foods (McDonalds Big Breakfast)
| Cholesterol per Order | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 465mg (155% DV) | 173mg (58% DV) | 121mg (40% DV) |
More Fast Foods High in Cholesterol
- 118% DV in an egg and bacon biscuit
- 63% DV in a Double Whopper with Cheese
See all fast foods high in cholesterol.
#2: Liver
| Cholesterol per 3oz Serving | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 419mg (140% DV) | 493mg (164% DV) | 414mg (138% DV) |
Most organ meats are high in cholesterol and should be limited.
#3: Fatty Meats (Chicken Leg)
| Cholesterol per Roasted Leg (Thigh And Leg) | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 328mg (109% DV) | 127mg (42% DV) | 138mg (46% DV) |
More Fatty Meats High in Cholesterol
- 59% DV in a pork chop with fat
- 42% DV in a rack of pork spare ribs
- 40% DV in a single chicken wing
See the full list of high cholesterol meats.
#4: Canned Shrimp
| Cholesterol per Cup | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 323mg (108% DV) | 252mg (84% DV) | 504mg (168% DV) |
Shrimp, like all seafood, have a high omega 3 to omega 6 ratio, making them heart-healthy.
#5: Desserts (Chocolate Mousse)
| Cholesterol per 1/2 Cup | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 283mg (94% DV) | 140mg (47% DV) | 124mg (41% DV) |
More High Cholesterol Desserts
- 39% DV in 1/2 cup of egg custard
- 33% DV in 1/2 cup of ice-cream
- 25% DV in a cream filled eclair
#6: Eggs
| Cholesterol in 1 Large Egg | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 187mg (62% DV) | 373mg (124% DV) | 481mg (160% DV) |
While eggs do contain cholesterol, they are not believed to raise cholesterol levels as part of a balanced diet. If you have high cholesterol, limiting yourself to 1 egg per day is advisable as a precautionary measure.
#7: Whipped Cream
| Cholesterol per Cup Whipped | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 133mg (44% DV) | 111mg (37% DV) | 76mg (25% DV) |
#8: Bacon
| Cholesterol per 3 Slices | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 36mg (12% DV) | 99mg (33% DV) | 42mg (14% DV) |
Other Processed Meats High in Cholesterol
- 27% DV in 3oz of pepperoni
- 21% DV in a pork bratwurst sausage
#9: Cheese
| Cholesterol per Oz | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 35mg (12% DV) | 123mg (41% DV) | 70mg (23% DV) |
#10: Butter
| Cholesterol per Tblsp | Cholesterol per 100g | Cholesterol per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 31mg (10% DV) | 215mg (72% DV) | 60mg (20% DV) |
See All 200 Foods High in Cholesterol
Next ➞Printable One Page Sheet
High Risk Groups for High Blood Cholesterol
- Individuals with a family history of high cholesterol - Regulation of blood cholesterol levels is hereditary and it is advisable to find out if relatives have high cholesterol levels.
- Older Adults - Cholesterol levels rise with age, particularly in post-menopausal women.
- Over-weight Individuals - Being over-weight increases risk of heart disease and tends to correlate with high cholesterol levels.
- People with Low Physical Activity Levels - Exercise is an effective way to lower bad cholesterol levels (LDLs) and raise good cholesterol levels (HDLs). People who are not physically active are more likely to have high cholesterol levels.
- Individuals with high blood pressure - High blood pressure in combination with high cholesterol levels greatly increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
- Smokers - Individuals who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of heart disease and should monitor their cholesterol levels carefully.
About the Data
Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.
You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.
Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.
About Nutrient Targets
Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.
Some of the most popular targets include:- Daily Value (%DV) - The %DV is a general guideline for everyone and takes into account absorption factors. It is the most common target in the U.S. and found on the nutrition labels of most products. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
- Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) - The Reference Dietary Intake (RDI) accounts for age and gender. It is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization. The daily value (%DV) builds on the reference dietary intake to create a number for everyone.
- Adequate Intake (%AI) - Sets a target for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. The Adequate Intake is also set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. It represents a number to ensure adequacy but lacks the same level of evidence as the Reference Dietary Intake. In short, the number is less accurate than the RDI.
See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.
Want to set your own targets? Sign up for an account and set custom targets in the daily meal planner.From the Nutrient Ranking Tool
- Foods High in Cholesterol
- Foods Low in Cholesterol
- Vegetarian Foods High in Cholesterol
- Dairy High in Cholesterol
- Breakfast Cereals High in Cholesterol
- Fast Foods High in Cholesterol
View more food groups with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.
MyFoodData provides free nutrition data tools
and articles to help you organize and understand the foods you eat.
Create a free account to get nutrition facts on recipes and meals, track foods, and set custom targets.