06/01/2026
Did you know that your body makes all the cholesterol it needs? Any additional cholesterol found in your body comes from the animal-derived foods you eat. Other cholesterol facts:
❤️ Cholesterol helps your body produce hormones, build cell membranes, and digest food. However, too much of a certain type of cholesterol — that is, LDL cholesterol — in your bloodstream can build up as plaque on your artery walls, which can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
💛 Eating foods high in saturated fat is the primary driver of high LDL cholesterol. Foods high in saturated fat include fried foods, red meat, baked goods, and processed meat (bacon, hot dogs, etc).
❤️ Eggs are high in cholesterol, but low in saturated fat. People without heart disease can safely eat up to seven eggs a week.
💛 There is no cholesterol in plants! But, many plant-based foods can be made unhealthy by various types of cooking processes, such as those that rely on oils high in saturated fat— for example, potatoes vs. French fries.
❤️ High LDL is one of the top three causes of heart disease. The other two? High blood pressure, and smoking.
Click here: https://bit.ly/3PQwL5L to learn more from Pauley preventive cardiology provider Emelia Vanderburg Hanners, PA, about how you can monitor and manage your cholesterol levels.
