High cholesterol levels can result into hazardous health troubles like heart problems, kidney diseases, stroke etc. To put control over this problem, you should eat more fruits and vegetables, and balance the intake of red meats and other fatty foods. You should also have your blood cholesterol tested regularly, chiefly when you have a family history of high cholesterol.

Liver produces cholesterol, which is located in the cell walls. Lipoproteins are also produced in the liver, which transmit fats, cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins together with other substances to other body parts for repairing and providing energy. But when cholesterol level rises higher than its normal, it can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke. Your total blood cholesterol will come under one of these categories:

Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high risk — 200–239 mg/dL
High risk — 240 mg/dL and over

Helmut Schrott, MD, a professor of epidemiology in the University of Iowa College of Public Health and director of the UI Lipid Research Clinic stated, “Cholesterol is needed for cell wall functioning and for the production of hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. However, the body naturally makes cholesterol in every cell, so there is no absolute dietary need for it.”

If you are over weight, eat unbalanced diet, and also have high cholesterol levels in family history, then you are more likely to develop heart disease. To avoid this, you have to follow a proper diet as well as exercise plan. Medication, weight loss and proper diet help you to maintain proper cholesterol level.

Following an excellent diet plan, eating foods high in saturated fat, and getting regular exercise, will really meliorate cholesterol levels. If you have high cholesterol or are susceptible for high cholesterol, consult your doctor about a plan that works for you.