Reading food labels can help you eat the heart healthy way. Answers to the Cholesterol and Heart Disease I.Q. Quiz 1. High blood cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease that a person can do something about. High blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, overweight, and physical inactivity are the others. Although some red meat is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can raise your blood cholesterol, you do not need to stop eating it or any other single food.
Red meat is an important source of protein, iron, and other vitamins and minerals.
You should, however, cut back on the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol that you eat. One way to do this is by choosing lean cuts of meat with the fat trimmed. Another way is to watch your portion sizes and eat no more than 6 ounces of meat a day. Six ounces is about the size of two decks of playing cards. All adults 20 years of age or older should have their blood cholesterol level checked at least once every 5 years.