They are not the same thing. Blood cholesterol is made mainly by the liver and is needed for our bodies to function properly. However a level of blood cholesterol that is too high may lead to atherosclerosis. It collects excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver where the body can then get rid of it. The aim for a healthy heart is to have high blood levels of HDL cholesterol and low blood levels of LDL cholesterol.
Dietary cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources.
These include meats, full fat dairy products, egg yolks, and organ meats. In some people, eating too much cholesterol can raise their own blood cholesterol. It is important to be aware of both. Although there are different types of fat that affect heart health differently, the most important thing is to eat less fat of all kinds. Food usually contains mixtures of different types of fat.