What can I do to manage my cholesterol?

You can't control the amount of cholesterol your body produces naturally, but you can control how much cholesterol you ingest in your diet. Foods containing cholesterol include products from animals, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, butter, cheese, and eggs.

Luckily, there are more food products than ever to help you control this—while still getting a sufficient amount of protein in your diet. Egg Beaters® and skim milk are two great examples.

Take Control of Your Cholesterol

This year, the American Heart Association® reported that more than 141 million Americans have above-normal or high cholesterol. So, if you're battling cholesterol, you're not alone. But, you have reason for concern. Why? High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease—the number-one killer of Americans.

What is it, anyway?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance your body naturally produces to stay healthy. In itself, it's not actually bad. Your body produces 75 percent of the cholesterol in your bloodstream, and your diet accounts for the remaining 25 percent.

HDL, LDL... What's behind all the letters?

HDL and LDL are two types of cholesterol. HDL is high density, or "good," cholesterol. LDL is low density, or "bad," cholesterol. When there's too much LDL cholesterol in your system, it can clog arteries—increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

How do I know how much cholesterol I've got?

The American Heart Association recommends that every person (20 years of age or older) get a fasting "lipoprotein profile" once every five years.

So what do all these numbers mean?

Total blood cholesterol is a measure of your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels. The goal is to keep your total blood cholesterol at 200 mg/dL or below. People with a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or greater have a higher risk of heart disease than those with a desirable level.

For HDL cholesterol, a high number is actually better. HDL levels more than 60 mg/dL tend to be protective, while HDL levels less than 40 mg/dL can pose an increased risk of heart disease for men (less than 50 mg/dL for women).

When it comes to LDL cholesterol, lower is better. LDL cholesterol tends to be a better gauge of risk for heart disease than total cholesterol. Remember: It's important to work with your healthcare provider to monitor your blood lipids and to develop a plan to achieve or maintain optimal blood cholesterol levels. For more help understanding what the different levels mean, take a look at the chart below.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of cholesterol, and why it's so important. If you want more information, look to the American Heart Association. And, if you have immediate health concerns or questions, seek out your healthcare provider.

(Note: The information in this article is for adults who want to prevent heart disease. It is not intended for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease [heart attack, angina, coronary artery disease] or who have had heart surgery, a balloon or angioplasty procedure, or an angiogram that showed a blockage in a coronary artery.)