However, cholesterol in excess can build up in places where it is harmful. Hereditary factors and too much saturated fat in the diet can add to this build-up. It is the saturated fat in food that has the greatest negative effect on your blood cholesterol level. One place where cholesterol causes trouble is in the walls of blood vessels. Too much cholesterol can make the blood vessel brittle or can block the flow of blood.
Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meat, eggs, and butter.
Saturated fat is found in those animal products and in plant products, such as coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fat is easy to recognize because it is usually solid at room temperature. Other fats, such as polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat, are found in vegetable oils. These fats are liquid or very soft at room temperature. Total fat consumed should be 30 percent or less of the day's total calories.