Myth Busters: Seafood and Cholesterol
Should you avoid seafood because it's high in cholesterol?
Many people think that cholesterol in seafood will increase the cholesterol in blood. Actually, just the opposite is true.
Cholesterol found in seafood or other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fattty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol, not dietary cholesterol!
Saturated fats are found in some pre-packaged food or other processed foods containing shortening or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Trans fatty acids, on the other hand, are also found in packaged snack foods, deep-fried foods or firm-margarine containing hydrogenated oil.
There are many factors affecting your blood cholesterol level, including your family history, age, gender, eating habits, body weight and shape, level of physical activity as well as diabetes conditions.
Published 01/02/09
