October monthly myth: Eating seafood may raise blood cholesterol

Posted October 1st, 2009 by Elaine Hastings, RD - Nutrition Expert and filed in Meal Tips, Monthly Myths

It’s National Seafood Month! A new nutrition myth out there is the idea that eating seafood will cause high blood cholesterol. The truth is that cholesterol found in seafood, as well as other meats, has little effect on blood cholesterol. A person’s intake of saturated fat and trans fatty acids are the two most important diet factors that raise blood cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in many packaged foods and in a variety of meat products. Trans fatty acids are also found in packaged snack foods, deep-fried foods, and margarines which contain hydrogenated oil.