Read food labels to find out how many grams of fat a food item contains per serving. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol more than anything else in the diet. Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature. Dietary cholesterol in excess can contribute to hardening of the arteries. About Cholesterol Cholesterol is an odorless, white, waxy substance.
Cholesterol is made only by animals.
It is present in every cell in all parts of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, heart, and skeleton. Plant foods have no cholesterol. It is recommended that we eat no more than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per day. Your blood cholesterol can be measured using a blood sample taken from your finger or arm. High A fasting blood test is not needed to measure total blood cholesterol.