Cholesterol is found naturally in cell walls or membranes everywhere in your body. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in the arteries of the heart, which could lead to heart disease.

The National Cholesterol Education Program has the following recommendations for everyone over 2 years old:

• keep saturated fat to less than 10 percent of calories
• total fat should average 30 percent of calories or less
• cholesterol from food should be less than 300 milligrams per day

This can be accomplished by following these suggestions:

• Choose foods that are low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat content.
  
  Stay away from organ meats (liver, e.g.), processed meats (sausage and hotdogs, etc.), egg yolks, butter, cheeses, whole milk, ice cream, fried foods, and saturated oils such as coconut, palm, and palm kernel. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, pasta, cereals, low fat and fat-free dairy products, lean cuts of meat or fish, and skinless poultry.
• Increase physical activity.
  
  Regular exercise can raise HDL-cholesterol levels, the so-called "good cholesterol" because it helps remove the unhealthy form of cholesterol from the blood. 30 minutes of aerobic activity is recommended at least 3 to 5 times per week. Before beginning an exercise program or suddenly increasing activity levels, consult your physician. Not all exercises are suitable for everyone.
• Keep your weight in a healthy range.
  
  Being overweight can increase the likelihood of having elevated cholesterol. Weight loss can increase the "good cholesterol" (HDL) and decrease the "bad cholesterol" (LDL). The best combination for losing weight is decreasing caloric intake while increasing physical activity. Be sure to get advice from a physician concerning the best exercises and food regimen for you.
• Take cholesterol-lowering medication if your physician prescribes it.
  
  It is still very important to continue to exercise, eat healthy, and keep weight down, while you are taking these medications. They are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.