Less than 10 percent of calories should come from saturated fatty acids. All fats contain both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The fats in animal products are the main sources of saturated fatty acids in most diets. Excess saturated fatty acids increase blood cholesterol levels in many people. Animal products are the only sources of dietary cholesterol.
Meat has a reputation for being high in cholesterol.
This is mainly due to the amount of meat we eat rather than the amount of cholesterol per ounce of meat. Women consume an average of about 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day which is the maximum daily intake recommended by the American Heart Association. A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can help maintain a desirable level of blood cholesterol. As blood cholesterol increases above this level, greater risk of heart disease occurs. The way diet affects blood cholesterol varies among individuals.