How Much Cholesterol Is in Ground Beef and Ground Turkey?

Ground beef and ground turkey are both rich sources of protein, but that's not the only nutrient the two meats provide. A less beneficial nutrient contained in ground beef, ground turkey and other foods is cholesterol. Having high levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease, so you should limit your daily intake for optimal health.

Cholesterol Overview

While the singular term "cholesterol" is often used, your body has two types of cholesterol, HDL, which is considered healthy, and LDL, which is considered unhealthy. HDL can help remove excess cholesterol from your blood vessels, but LDL builds up in your blood vessels and can limit blood flow, which increases your risk of heart disease. Consuming too much cholesterol in your diet may increase the amount of LDL in your blood.

Cholesterol in Ground Beef

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Ground beef is high in cholesterol, with 84 milligrams in each 100-gram serving, which is equal to about 3.5 ounces. This amount of cholesterol comprises 28 percent of the daily recommended intake of 300 milligrams suggested by the American Heart Association. The organization explains that if you have high cholesterol levels already or suffer from coronary heart disease, you should limit daily cholesterol intake to 200 milligrams, so 100 grams of ground beef contains 42 percent of that recommendation.

Cholesterol in Ground Turkey

Ground turkey is higher in cholesterol than ground beef, as each 100-gram serving contains 93 milligrams. That amount comprises 31 percent of the suggested intake of 300 milligrams per day and 47 percent of the suggested intake of 200 milligrams per day for those with existing cholesterol problems.

Ground Beef Nutritional Highlights

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Ground beef is high in calories, with 295 in each 100-gram serving. That serving also provides 23 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat and no carbohydrates. Ground beef is rich in potassium and selenium, but also high in saturated fat, with 9 grams per 100-gram serving.

Ground Turkey Nutritional Highlights

Ground turkey provides more than cholesterol; it's rich in protein, with 27 grams in each 100-gram serving. A 100-gram serving is high in calories, with 203, but contains no carbohydrates. Ground turkey is also high in fat, with more than 10 grams of total fat and less than 3 grams of saturated fat per 100-gram serving. Ground turkey is rich in potassium, selenium, choline and vitamin A, as well.