Here are some questions and answers to help you understand cholesterol and the role it plays. Both fat and cholesterol belong to a larger family of chemical compounds called lipids. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol is important to our bodies. It plays an essential role in the nervous system and the brain.
Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin.
Plant foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts do not contain cholesterol. Sources of dietary cholesterol include meat, poultry, fish, whole milk, cheese, egg yolks and organ meats like liver. Blood cholesterol comes from the foods we eat and from our body's own cholesterol-making process. The body produces enough to meet its needs-up to 800 to 1500 milligrams of cholesterol every day. Keep in mind that HDLs and LDLs are found in the blood, not in food.