Forecast: Change in Dietary Cholesterol Guidelines

Health recommendations on dietary cholesterol limits may change, due to the new Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The committee based its recommendations on numerous clinical studies that found no evidence to connect consuming food with cholesterol (dietary cholesterol) with more cholesterol in the bloodstream.

The group continues to caution against foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, which multiple studies have proven to increase cholesterol levels in the blood. That’s because a diet high in saturated and trans fats makes your liver produce more blood cholesterol. So we don’t get a free pass for red meat, pizza and ice cream, though cholesterol in egg yolks, for example, may no longer be a “nutrient of concern.”

High-cholesterol foods like eggs and shellfish that may not be of concern on their own are often eaten with high-fat foods. To control blood cholesterol levels, avoid bacon and eggs and lobster with butter sauce. Instead, have eggs with whole grain toast and fruit, and shellfish without high-fat sauce.

Those with existing heart disease and diabetes should still be cautious with dietary cholesterol, the panel indicates. To maintain healthy cholesterol levels, enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables daily to benefit from their heart-healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products; boost your fiber intake with oats and whole grains. Also include at least two servings per week of salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines or tuna for their Omega-3 fatty acid content. A serving is 3.5 ounces cooked or about ¾ cup of flaked fish.

The report is significant because it may influence the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines are the basis for diet advice, policies and regulations for school meals, and how food companies market and label their products. The 2015 Guidelines are due at the end of this year.

This post was written by Sotiria Everett, RD, of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health.

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