This may not be the most popular response (because it's a different viewpoint), but I have to tell you my opinion regarding cholesterol intake. Here's the thing: If you don't eat cholesterol, your body will make it. For example, vegans (strict vegetarians who eat NO animal products whatsoever) eat NO cholesterol. If their bodies didn't make the cholesterol they need, they'd die. But, of course, their bodies make up for the missing nutrients. Many researchers are pointing to the "French Paradox." That is, that the French have much lower incidences of heart disease than the US, but they consume lots of saturated fats and cholesterol in the form of butter, cheese, whole fat dairy products, etc. In fact, some researchers estimate that the macronutrient breakdown of a typical French diet is up to 50% or more FAT...much of it saturated with lots of cholesterol.
The biggest issue with regard to cholesterol ratios has more to do with the TYPES of fat consumed and the types of refined carbohydrates consumes (weird, huh?). For example, polyunsaturated fats like sunflower, corn, and safflower oils INCREASE bad cholesterol ratios. And when vegetable oils like this are hydrogenated, the case is even worse because trans-fats are created. Moreover, the very imbalanced ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats is astounding. In most industrialized societies, we don't eat enough omega-3 fatty acids (think wild salmon, omega-3 enriched eggs, flax seed, walnuts). But we DO eat way too much omega-6 fats (vegetable oils)...because we're trying to eliminate CHOLESTEROL! In limiting our cholesterol intake over the previous few decades (less butter, more margarine & veg oils), heart disease has increased greatly. Also, eating too much high fructose corn syrup can have a very negative effect on the triglycerides and cholesterol ratios in your body.
In any event, I won't go on and on about this. I know I've written a lot of information. I will just tell you of my story: I never had high cholesterol (180 was the highest). Yet when I stopped eating crappy processed foods (mostly carbs) and began eating more butter, fresh cheese, fatty fish, olive oil, etc., my cholesterol decreased to 122 over a period of a couple years. That's where it is now. To me, that's too low. But I went from eating "low fat" to eating higher fat -- with more saturated fat & cholesterol. And my cholesterol went way down.
Just remember that this low fat diet thing isn't really the healthiest thing for many people. Our bodies need fat & cholesterol to function best -- think of your hormones like estrogen and aldosterone -- they are steroid hormones that REQUIRE fat & cholesterol...so either you eat it or your body makes it. Our bodies also need fat for the myelin that line our neurons to transmit signals throughout our bodies. There's just so much controversy surrounding the "best" diet for cholesterol issues.
One thing's for sure, though: Low fat diets certainly haven't worked to help obesity, nor have they worked to lower the incidence of heart disease.
Anyway, below is a website you might find interesting. There's lots of articles on there about various types of fats.
http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/index.html
High Cholesterol and watching your intake
