NutriBasesNutrition Intelligence

Nutrients

Cholesterol

Found in animal foods. The Daily Value cap is 300 mg.

Richest source in our database: Beef, Brain (3,100 mg per 100 g).

Daily Value (DV) 300 mg
Unit mg per 100 g
Guidance Intake of this component is usually best kept moderate.

Understanding cholesterol

What it does

Cholesterol is a waxy substance the body uses to build cell membranes and make hormones and vitamin D. The liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs, so none has to come from food. Dietary cholesterol is found only in animal products.

When intake runs high

There is no requirement to eat cholesterol, and the Daily Value caps it at 300 mg. For most people, saturated and trans fats raise blood cholesterol more than dietary cholesterol itself does, though a subset of people are more sensitive to the cholesterol they eat. Foods high in cholesterol often come packaged with saturated fat, which compounds the effect.

Absorption & pairing

How much dietary cholesterol affects blood levels varies from person to person, with some people responding more strongly than others. Focusing on the overall pattern, especially cutting saturated and trans fats, generally matters more than counting cholesterol milligrams.

Food-first strategy

Keep cholesterol near the 300 mg limit by moderating organ meats, fatty meats and full-fat dairy, and by making eggs and shellfish part of an otherwise balanced diet. Plant foods contain no cholesterol at all, so meals built on vegetables, whole grains and legumes naturally stay low. Choosing lean proteins and unsaturated fats supports healthy blood cholesterol.

Only animal foods contain cholesterol; all plant foods are naturally cholesterol-free. The liver produces all the cholesterol the body needs on its own. For most people, saturated and trans fats affect blood cholesterol more than the cholesterol in food.

Foods highest in cholesterol

Full ranking

Values per 100 g of edible portion, sorted high to low. The bar shows the share of the Daily Value.

  1. Beef, Brain3,100 mg1033%
  2. Veal, Brain3,100 mg1033%
  3. Beef, Brain3,010 mg1003%
  4. Lamb, New Zealand2,559 mg853%
  5. Pork, Fresh2,552 mg851%
  6. Lamb, Brain2,504 mg835%
  7. Egg, Yolk2,340 mg780%
  8. Egg, Yolk2,307 mg769%
  9. Pork, Fresh2,195 mg732%
  10. Veal, Brain2,120 mg707%
  11. Lamb, New Zealand2,100 mg700%
  12. Lamb, Brain2,043 mg681%

See also

Foods highest in cholesterol Foods lowest in cholesterol Meat & Poultry Lowest in Cholesterol Fish & Seafood Lowest in Cholesterol Eggs & Dairy Lowest in Cholesterol All nutrients

Note. This information is provided for general reference only and is not medical advice or a diet prescription. If you have a medical condition or special dietary needs, consult a physician or a registered dietitian.