Cholesterol. We all have it in our bodies, and we might even know our numbers for "good” (HDL cholesterol) and “bad” (LDL cholesterol). The bad stuff—LDL cholesterol—can build up in your arteries, raising your risk for heart disease. None of that is a myth.
What _is_ a myth: the notion that dietary cholesterol—the kind found in eggs, shrimp, and other animal proteins—can raise your body’s cholesterol. There’s just no evidence to back that up. As the Dietary Guidelines for Americans puts it, “cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for over-consumption.”
So what is a “nutrient of concern”? Saturated fat—also found in animal sources, but some plant sources as well, including coconut oil—is. Paying attention to foods that are high in sat fat, and swapping out for ones that are lower in sat fat, can help. Check your Weekly for some ey-opening sat fat stats—and savvy substitutions that, by the way, will save you SmartPoints® values.