Heart attack kills one American every 60 seconds. The result can be clogged arteries and a potential heart attack. China's one billion have an average cholesterol level of 135 - and heart attacks are extremely rare. A recent University of California study showed overwhelming evidence that lowering your cholesterol level can actually reverse plaque build-up in your arteries. People with blood cholesterol levels over 265 have a four times greater risk of heart disease than those at 190 or lower.
Foods vary widely in fat content.
Many have astronomical amounts of fat - 20 to 30 grams or more. Delicious new low-fat varieties have as few as 2 or 3. Read labels carefully and buy foods with little or no total fat and saturated fat. On a 2,000 calorie a day diet, your goal is to limit saturated fat intake to fewer than 20 grams per day - the fewer, the better. Choosing foods with zero to 3 grams per serving will help you attain that goal.