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American diet provides an average of 34% of total calories from
fat, with 12% of total calories coming from saturated fat. The
diet of many other countries is lower in fat content and this
lower intake of fat appears to be associated with the lower
rates of obesity and lower risks of several diseases seen in
those countries. The American Heart Association, The National
Cancer Institute, the American Dietetic Association, and the
USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans of 2005 recommend that
only 20 to 30% of our daily caloric intake should come from fat,
with 10% or less coming from saturated fat. The American Heart
Association also recommends that we consume 300 mg or less of
cholesterol per day; this is a little more than the amount of
cholesterol in one large egg, which is 213 to 220 mg. The
average daily intake of dietary cholesterol is 220 to 260 mg for
women and 360 mg for men. Extre