Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, waxy alcohol found in the cell membranes and transported in the blood plasma of all the animals. It's a cardinal part of the outer membranes of human body cells and it circulates in the blood of humans. It's an important component of cell membranes as it is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. Cholesterol comes in human body mostly from two sources i.e. diet and liver, where it is produced internally.

Although cholesterol is essential for human body but high cholesterol levels in the blood can cause several problems in human body. The cholesterol level in the bloodstream influences the pathogenesis of certain conditions like development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease which can even lead to heart attacks. It interferes with the flow of blood as it gets collected on the walls of arteries and creates problem in the passage of blood in the heart. Abundance of protein complexes, called lipoproteins according to the recent researches are responsible for cholesterol build up in the blood vessels which make the arteries hardened. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL), are mostly responsible for heart disease.

Cholesterol in your Diet:

A high cholesterol diet is considered an unpleasant diet for the heart even though our tongue may relish it. Diets which have high levels of fat like egg yolks, butter, oil, dairy products etc. are fatal for heart and cause heart disease. Diets which have lower cholesterol in them are considered as to be a healthy diet. A low cholesterol diet means a diet which contains very less amount of cholesterol or no cholesterol at all. Diets of plant origin are the best low cholesterol diets for a healthy diet. A vegetarian diet and a low fat diet food are considered good.

Fat is one of the main source of power for the body, but excessive fat in the diet is dangerous as it increases the cholesterol levels in the body. It interferes in the blood circulation and causes heart attack or stroke. A perfectly balanced diet is considered as a healthy diet which means to take proper amount of calories required by the body so that there will be a proper balance of fat and cholesterol in the body.

An ideal low and balanced cholesterol diet has the following features:

- Low in fat (especially saturated fat).

- Should contain low cholesterol.

- Should contain low sodium contents.

- Should be rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates.

- Should be usually a low calorie diet.

Sugar and alcohol consumption should also be reduced as they increase cholesterol in the body. Eating fast food should be avoided as they contain fats and sodium which is not good for your health. Doing exercise on a daily basis can also help in reducing cholesterol levels. It would be ideal for you to eat at least four to five servings of vegetables and fruits on a daily basis.

Recent studies have discovered that some deep-sea fishes like albacore, mackerel, salmon, herring, tuna, and lake trout contains oil called Omega-3 fatty acid that may aid to lower blood cholesterol.