| Cholesterol
- The Facts |
| Why
were we told in the past to cut down on eggs? |
| In
the past it was thought that people should limit the
number of eggs they eat because of the cholesterol content
of eggs. But it is now known that saturated fat - which
eggs are low in - is more influential in raising blood
cholesterol than dietary cholesterol itself. |
| What
the experts say ... |
Coronary
Prevention Group
... raised blood cholesterol is caused by eating too
much saturated fat. Saturated fat encourages the body
to make more cholesterol than it needs or can get rid
of, leading to the narrowing of arteries, eventually,
coronary heart disease. |
Family
Heart Association
It is now well understood that a diet high in fat, particularly
saturated (hard/animal) fat is detrimental to health.
Too much saturated fat can cause a raised blood cholesterol
which in turn can be a major factor in narrowing or
even blocking arteries. |
British
Heart Foundation
... research has shown that eating foods which contain
a lot of fat, especially saturated fat, has a much greater
effect in pushing up the blood cholesterol level than
the dietary cholesterol. |
Health
Education Authority
Cholesterol found in the body is often called 'blood
cholesterol'. Cholesterol is also found in some foods
(dietary cholesterol), but this cholesterol does not
have a major effect on the overall amount of cholesterol
in the blood of most people.
The amount of saturates eaten is the main influence
on blood cholesterol levels. |
World
Health Organisation
Many people in the UK have high levels of blood cholesterol,
increasing the risk of a heart attack; the main cause
is a diet high in saturated fat. |
