Blood pressure tends to be raised in people who are obese, drink too much alcohol, take little or no exercise and who smoke. Current intakes of salt in the UK average 9 grams per day, it is recommended that we reduce our intake to 6 grams per day. The level of blood cholesterol is affected more by the amount and type of fat in the diet than the amount of dietary cholesterol. A high intake of saturates , and fat of all types, can increase the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver and so the amount in the blood. Dietary cholesterol has a weaker effect of blood cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin.
For most people, monitoring dietary cholesterol intake is much less important than reducing saturates intake. Soluble fibre is a type of fibre found in foods such as oats, fruits, vegetables and beans. It has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the intestine. The stickiness of the blood is less in people who eat oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring regularly. They may help to reduce the level of blood cholesterol if used as a part of a healthy balanced diet.