Everyone makes cholesterol in their body every day. Many parts of the body depend upon cholesterol for their proper function.Only when the body makes too much cholesterol, is it harmful. This extra cholesterol causes trouble if it builds up is in the walls of blood vessels. This can make the vessels brittle or it can block the flow of blood.

Cholesterol is not a fat itself, but the liver produces more cholesterol if your diet is high in saturated fats. In this way, a diet that has too much saturated fat can lead to heart disease or stroke. Not all fats in your diet raise cholesterol. Some fats even seem to lower cholesterol and help decrease the risk of heart disease, as long as they are eaten in moderation.

Saturated fats are usually found in animal products, such as butter and meat. Coconut oil and palm oil also are mostly saturated fats. These fats are easy to recognize because they are almost always solid at room temperature. Other fats, such as polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats, are found in vegetable oils. These fats are liquid or very soft at room temperature. The Heart Association recommends that:
* Total fat intake should be less than 30 percent of daily calories.
* Saturated fats should be less than 10 percent of calories. Polyunsaturated fats should be no more than 10 percent of calories. These types of fats are found in corn oil, sunflower oil, or margarines made from these oils.
* Mono-unsaturated fats make up the rest of the fat intake, about 10 to 15 percent of total calories. These fats are found in olive oil and canola oil.
* Total calories in the diet should achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

To find out more, you can contact your local Heart Association office or call (800) 242-8721.

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