The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL should, ideally, be around 3 to 1. Unfortunately, the average American male's ratio is much higher than that, at 5.1 to 1. Since our bodies make plenty of cholesterol for our needs, we do not need add any in our diet. They should be avoided. No foods from plants contain cholesterol.
People can therefore reduce their cholesterol levels dramatically by changing the foods they eat.
And every time you reduce your cholesterol level by 1 percent, you reduce your risk of heart disease by 2 percent. For some people, the benefits are even greater. Every 100 mg of cholesterol in your daily diet adds roughly 5 points to your cholesterol level, although this varies from person to person. 4 Unlike fat, cholesterol is located mainly in the lean portion of meat. Animal products also contain saturated fat, which causes the liver to produce more cholesterol.