There is no proven way to control HDL and LDL levels, but diet may play a part. Cholesterol in the body comes from two major sources. The other major source of chotesterol is that which is produced by the body, the majority of which comes from the liver. Cholesterol is required for the formation of bile acids, which are needed for fat digestion. It is also used to make important hormones such as estrogen and progesterone and is involved in the formation of vitamin D in the skin.
Much controversy exists about fat, cholesterol and heart disease.
Other factors that have been strongly implicated in heart disease are stress, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease. To protect your heart, experts recommend that you reduce your overall fat intake - a measure considered by many to be even more important than eating less cholesterol. Saturated fats raise cholesterol levels in the blood while polyunsaturated fats lower them. Although it was once believed that monounsaturated fats had no effect on blood cholesterol levels, recent research studies suggest that a diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids is effective in reducing LDL levels while keeping HDL levels the same. Thus, beef fat is more saturated than chicken fat and vegetable shortening is more saturated than vegetable oil.