Even if you are on a cholesterol-free diet, your liver manufactures cholesterol to keep your body supplied. If you have too much cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet it may cause elevated blood cholesterol. Excess cholesterol clogs your arteries. This is called arteriosclerosis, and it impairs blood flow. When an artery is completely blocked it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol travels through the blood in protein packages called lipoproteins.
A one percent reduction in LDL lessens heart disease risk by two percent. In contrast, a high HDL protects against heart disease. Although diet cannot build up HDL's, a program of modest exercise and weight loss can. This article is not intended to provide individual advice which should be obtained directly from your health care professional. Even moderate exercise helps prevent strokes and heart attacks You don't have to be a fitness enthusiast to significantly improve your health.