You know cholesterol itself isn't bad !! In fact, cholesterol is just one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that comes from body and food. Especially from liver, it will produce and transforms into fat, makes all the cholesterol you need and circulates it through the blood. But cholesterol is also found in foods such as meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products.

Excess cholesterol form plaque between layers of artery walls, making it harder for heart to circulate blood. Plaque can break and cause blood clots. If a clot blocks an artery, it causes a stroke.

There are two types of cholesterol - "good" and "bad." Too much of one type and not enough to another can put at risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. It's important to know the levels of  cholesterol in blood.

Cholesterol is only found in animal-based foods

There are two types: dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is the cholesterol found in foods of animal origin. Because animals’ bodies naturally produce the waxy substances like fat. So while eating an animal-based food like eggs, dairy, meat, seafood, ingesting cholesterol that an animal’s body produced. Plant-based foods do not contain any cholesterol.

Making healthy eating choices and increasing exercise are more important steps in improving your cholesterol. For some people, cholesterol-lowering medication may also be needed to reduce the risk of  heart attack and stroke.

- Mayuka