Cholesterol: A Necessary Evil

You've probably participated in any one of the numerous fad diets, followed mantras such as "saturated fat is bad," and believed in the all-powerful gospel that cholesterol is harmful to the body. Believe it or not, cholesterol is necessary for your survival. Cholesterol is essential to the manufacture of vitamin D, certain hormones, and the production of cell membranes.

Your body produces the majority of the cholesterol you need for normal body functions, but some does need to come from your diet. Like everything else in life, dietary cholesterol should be consumed in moderation.

Unfortunately, Americans get more than enough cholesterol. The trick is to figure out how much cholesterol you really need in your diet. Choose those food sources that are low in cholesterol while still packed with protein, calcium, complex carbohydrates and omega-3 fatty acids. You don't have to give up on taste or convenience in a low cholesterol diet, you just need to know what foods to select.

If your cholesterol cannot be controlled through dietary and lifestyle changes alone, medication will be necessary. But, just because you need to take cholesterol lowering medication now, doesn't mean you'll need to for the rest of your life.

High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease, which is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. What is cholesterol? And what is a normal cholesterol level?

Lowering Cholesterol
Lowering your cholesterol requires a lifetime commitment. You'll need to follow a daily regimen of proper dieting, exercising and, if necessary, medication to regulate your cholesterol level.