Foods to avoid with high cholesterol
The fat around a food matters more than the cholesterol inside it.
What foods should you avoid with high cholesterol?
Foods to avoid with high cholesterol are the ones heavy in saturated fat: butter and cheese, fatty and processed meat, fried food, pastries, and coconut or palm oil. The cholesterol inside eggs and shrimp matters less than the fat around it. Load the plate with beans, oats, fish and olive oil instead.1
Built from NHS, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard and MedlinePlus advice. Reviewed November 13, 2026.Eat more
Eat more of these
Ease off
Ease off these
Butter and cheese
Butter, cream, hard cheese and full-fat yogurt.
3 ozcheese a week at most, Cleveland Clinic2
Alma turns these foods into meals that fit your numbers.
Build my planGet Alma on AndroidGet the appA sample day
One day on a plate
BreakfastOats with berriesOatmeal, blueberries and walnuts.
LunchBean chili with breadVeggie and bean chili, whole grain bread.
SnackApple and almondsA whole apple with a small handful of almonds.
DinnerBaked salmon and barleySalmon, barley and roasted broccoli.
Cholesterol ranges6
- Total cholesterol
- Under 200 mg/dL
- LDL
- Under 100 mg/dL
- HDL
- 60 mg/dL or higher
Healthy levels for adults age 20 and older.
What people ask
What foods cause high cholesterol levels?
Foods high in saturated fat do most of the work: fatty meat, butter, cheese, cream, fried food, pastries, and coconut or palm oil. The liver already makes the cholesterol the body needs, so cutting back on those fats leaves less for it to clear.
What are the main bad cholesterol foods?
The ones that raise LDL: butter, cheese and cream, fatty cuts of beef and pork, sausage and bacon, fried food, and baked goods made with butter or shortening. Coconut oil and palm oil are plant fats that behave in the same way.
Is there a list of 15 foods to avoid with high cholesterol?
Lists differ, so sort by fat instead. NHS and Cleveland Clinic point to the same groups: butter and cheese, fatty and processed meat, fried food, cakes and pastries, and coconut or palm oil.
Are eggs and shrimp off the list?
No. An egg carries cholesterol but little saturated fat, and shrimp is high in cholesterol with almost none of that fat. Cleveland Clinic suggests up to four egg yolks or two shellfish servings a week when cholesterol runs high.
How fast do cholesterol numbers move after changing food?
Slower than a medicine. Many people see better numbers three to six months after they start making changes, and genes still play a part. Keep taking any prescribed medicine and talk with the clinician before stopping it.
Does coconut oil belong on the avoid list?
Yes. Coconut oil is about 87% saturated fat, against 60% for butter, so it lifts LDL in the same way animal fats do. Olive, canola and sunflower oil are the better cooking fats.
Sources (7)
- NHS, How to lower your cholesterol
- Cleveland Clinic, High-cholesterol foods to eat and avoid
- Cleveland Clinic, 7 ways to lower your cholesterol
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Types of fat
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Fiber
- MedlinePlus, Cholesterol levels
- NHLBI, Choose heart-healthy foods
This guide is general education. Talk with your clinician before changing your diet or medicines.
