does eating meat impact my cholesterol?

Yes—meat can affect cholesterol, mainly through its saturated fat rather than its dietary cholesterol.

• Saturated fat: Saturated fat in many foods, including some meat products, can raise LDL cholesterol. 1
• Dietary cholesterol: Dietary cholesterol generally has little impact on blood cholesterol; only a small fraction is absorbed into circulation. 2 3
• What to focus on: For cholesterol management, pay more attention to saturated fat intake than to the cholesterol content of meat. 4