Cholesterol: What It Does and How Much You Need

Your body uses cholesterol to build cell membranes, make hormones, and produce vitamin D—and it produces most of what it needs on its own. Dietary cholesterol comes only from animal products: organ meats, egg yolks, caviar, and butter.

Daily limit

300 mg

Daily Value on US food labels; current guidelines advise eating as little as practical.

Why your body needs it

Cholesterol is a building block of every cell membrane. Your body also uses it to make sex hormones, cortisol, bile acids, and vitamin D. About 80% of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your liver.

Dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol

For most people, blood cholesterol levels are more strongly influenced by how much saturated and trans fat they eat than by dietary cholesterol itself. But responses vary: if you have high ("bad" LDL) cholesterol, your doctor may recommend limiting both.

Limit fatty cuts of meat, processed meats, butter, and pastries made with margarine.
Add more fish, legumes, oats, nuts, and plant oils to your meals.

Daily values are US Dietary Reference Intakes for adults 19–50. Nutrient content of foods varies with variety and cooking method. This is general information and does not replace advice from a doctor or dietitian.