Cholesterol Cholesterol Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance made by your liver. It is needed to form hormones, cell membranes and other important substances. Most of us think that cholesterol in foods become cholesterol in the blood. In fact, cholesterol in foods has little impact on your blood levels. It is your total fat intake that you should try to lower, and in particular, the saturated fats.
Some people produce a lot more cholesterol than others.
This may be related to fat intake as well as other factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Heredity can play a role too. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, it may be a good idea to have your blood levels checked. High levels of blood cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Use a monounsaturated fat such as canola or olive oil.