Studies show that close to 1 out of every 4 deaths in the country is due to complications of heart disease. These are indeed alarming numbers, and one of the major factors that contribute to heart disease is a high-cholesterol diet. Most of us are aware of the foods that are high in cholesterol, but there are some foods that may seem harmless but can actually cause cholesterol-related health issues. Let’s take a look at 5 foods that surprisingly contribute to a high-cholesterol diet:

1. Coconut oil
There is so much information on how coconut oil is good for health, and while this is true, most people forget to mention that coconut oil is also a major culprit that contributes to a high-cholesterol diet. Coconut oil contains monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It contains a whopping 92% of saturated fat, which is one of the leading reasons for people to develop high cholesterol.

2. Cheese
A standard 1-ounce serving of your favorite cheese might be high in calcium, but it also serves up a huge amount of cholesterol in your diet. It is important to remember that all types of cheese do not have the same levels of saturated fats that lead to cholesterol. Cheddar, American, and Swiss cheese, for instance, have a higher quantity of saturated fats as compared to mozzarella. It is best to limit your intake of cheese to avoid cholesterol issues.

3. Full-fat yogurt
Full-fat yogurt contains a good serving of calcium that is necessary for strong bones, but this healthy food is also loaded with cholesterol-causing saturated fats. This is true of most milk-based products. In fact, one cup of milk can contain as much as 11% of the daily recommended intake of cholesterol. Doctors advise patients with cholesterol problems or heart disease to switch over to low-fat yogurt so that they can enjoy the deliciousness minus the complications of consuming excess saturated fats.

4. Granola
In several studies, researchers have found that a single serving of granola can often contain more sugar than a small can of cola or more oil than a small pack of French fries from McDonald’s. This surprising fact proves that this healthy food can lead to a cholesterol problem if consumed daily. The same applies to many brands of energy bars that pack in lots of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates that offer no nutritional value.

5. Butter popcorn
Popcorn in itself is a cholesterol-free snack, but if you add a dollop of butter to it, you are packing in those additional unhealthy fats. The same goes for popcorn that has been prepared in oil. You may feel that a little butter in your popcorn will not do much damage, but it is harmful in the long run. So, take the healthy route and have air-popped corn that is healthy and fat-free.

This guide should enable healthy eating by keeping cholesterol-causing foods at bay and avoiding a high-cholesterol diet.