Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all your body's cells. It is important and is used to form cell membranes, some hormones and other needed tissues. But it can be a problem if you have too much. Cholesterol is made in your body, mostly in the liver. It also comes from animal foods such as meat, seafood, dairy products and egg yolks. Cholesterol travels to the body's cells via the blood stream by carriers called lipoproteins, including low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL ("bad cholesterol") is the major carrier and too much can build up plaque on artery walls that go to the heart and brain. HDL ("good cholesterol") seems to lower the risk of heart attach and stroke. Triglyceride is the major form in which fat occurs in nature and high levels in the blood often appear with higher total cholesterol and LDL and lower HDL levels.

Starting at age 20, have your cholesterol levels checked. Here are values and risk factors.

Type	Desirable	Borderline high	High Risk
Total Cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dl	200-239 mg/dl	240 mg/dl & over
LDL Cholesterol	Less than 130 mg/dl	130-159 mg/dl	160 mg/dl & over
HDL Cholesterol	<40-50 M; 50-60 F		Under 35 mg/dl
Triglyceride Levels	Less than 200 mg/dl	200-400 mg/dl	400-1000 mg/dl

Your doctor looks at all these levels along with age, family history, smoking, physical activity, obesity and diabetes to determine your individual risk and treatment recommendation. Proper diet and exercise are the first line of defense and, if unsuccessful, medication is prescribed. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your cholesterol intake to an average of less than 300 milligrams/day. You need to partner with your doctor to decide what is best for you.

There are three kinds of fats in foods: saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Only saturated fatty acids and dietary cholesterol raise levels in your blood. Saturated fatty acids are the main culprit in raising blood cholesterol and are found mostly in foods from animals and some plants. Animal sources include beef, veal, lamb, pork, lard, poultry fat, butter, cream, whole milk, cheeses. Shell fish have high levels of cholesterol. Plant sources include coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil (tropical oils) and cocoa butter. Hydrogenated oils can also contribute to higher cholesterol levels. You need to read labels carefully.

You can lower your cholesterol by exercising regularly and eating more low fat, low cholesterol foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, fish without shells, poultry without skin and low-fat dairy products.

We have a pamphlet available with additional information or you can contact the American Heart Association @ 1 800-242-8721 or @ www.americanheart.org/.

Utilized information from the American Heart Association "Cholesterol and Your Heart"