Cholesterol is in the news. Good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, medications and foods that help to reduce your cholesterol level -- what's it all about? According to the American Heart Association, it's about living a longer, healthier life.

What is Cholesterol?
The cholesterol in our bodies comes from two different sources: one is the food we eat and digest; the other is our bodies themselves. In the body, cholesterol is produced by the liver and used to "manufacture" the membranes that surround each cell in our body as well as aid the body in producing and using vitamin D and various hormones. Cholesterol is a needed element, however we do not need more then our livers produce. As the cholesterol we eat is an "added" source, our bodies are getting the substance in excess.

The cholesterol the body gets from food is called "dietary cholesterol," and is found in animal foods such as meat and dairy, but is not present in plants such as fresh fruits and vegetables. So, as meats and dairy foods are consumed, the body is getting an extra amount of cholesterol. If an overabundance of dietary cholesterol is consumed, the amount of cholesterol in the body can affect its normal function.

The Good and the Bad -- What is the Difference?
There are two types of cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). As each type of cholesterol has an effect on the body's cholesterol level -- which affects its level of normal function -- it is important to know the difference between them.

LDL is responsible for carrying the greatest amount of cholesterol. Thus, LDL is known as "bad" cholesterol. If the body has an excess of LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can for a thick substance called plaque that collects along the walls of arteries in the body, including the heart and brain. This formation of plaque along the arterial walls is known as "atherosclerosis," or hardening or thickening of the arteries. If these passages for the blood are narrowed, the flow of oxygenated blood and nutrients for the body are reduced. This reduction of oxygen and nutrients to the body can lead to cardiovascular disease or stroke.

"You won't notice the symptoms of high cholesterol until it's done damage: a heart attack, angina -- chest pain -- or a stroke," says Holly Vance, the lead pharmacist and patient education specialist at Drugstore.com. "Fortunately, your doctor or health professional can measure blood cholesterol level with a simple blood test. That way, you'll know whether you need to take steps to lower your risk for heart disease."

HDL is known as the "good" cholesterol. As HDL collects excess cholesterol in the blood, including LDL cholesterol and any deposits that may be in the arteries, it transports it to the liver to be metabolized and removed from the blood stream. A high level of HDL in the blood, the lower the risk of medial complications or high cholesterol levels. However, after the HDL have completed their purpose and removed all the excess cholesterol they can, the amount of LDL left in the blood stream and cells determine the cholesterol level and risk for medical complications.

"I am a single mother and I feel that it's my responsibility to safeguard my health so that I am able to take care of my children," says Michelle Smith from Chico, Calif. "Regular checkups for me include blood tests, cholesterol screening and ensuring that I am doing all I can do to prevent any medical problems that would minimize what I can do with and for my kids. No one can do it for me -- but me."

How Much is Too Much?
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 51 percent of the United States adult population has cholesterol levels higher then those that are recommended. So, what does that mean? What are the recommended levels?

To find the level of cholesterol in the blood, physicians can perform a simple blood test. This cholesterol test will show levels of total cholesterol for LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), as well as HDL (the "good" cholesterol). The American Heart Association recommends that total cholesterol levels remain under 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood). Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dl are said to offer a risk for complications while levels above 240 mg/dl are said to be high risk and medical intervention is needed.

The recommendations for LDL levels indicate a result of under 130 mg/dl is considered healthy while 130 to 159 mg/dl is at risk and above 160 mg/dl is high risk. HDL level recommendations differ, as a higher level of HDL is needed to rid the body of excess cholesterol. Therefore, a result of greater then 35 mg/dl is considered healthy while a reading less than 35 mg/dl is considered at risk. If questions arise after receiving blood cholesterol results, a medical professional can help to interpret the need for medical intervention and changes in life style in order to keep cholesterol levels within the required recommendation limit.

Help to Reduce Cholesterol Levels
If a higher then recommended blood cholesterol level is present, steps should be taken in order to reduce the risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Simple steps to reduce risk include: regular physical activity, reducing dietary cholesterol and receiving regular blood cholesterol testing to ensure levels are within recommended ranges.

Small subtle changes in diet can be made to also help in reducing cholesterol levels. For example, decreasing foods such as red meat, whole milk, butter, palm or coconut oils and shellfish and replacing them with foods such as fish, skinless poultry, tuna, skim milk, low fat cheeses, olive, peanut or soybean oils and spreads made with vegetable oils will help eliminate excess cholesterol.

"My dad has very high cholesterol and blood pressure," says Melissa Brooks, a 27-year-old mother of one from Victoria, Texas. "I want to start early trying to control my blood pressure and have taken a few steps to do that, such as eating lots of fiber, cutting out as much fat as possible, and removing the skin from the chicken."

"If your levels are too high, there are plenty of ways to get them down," says Vance. "First things first -- exercise regularly and adopt a diet low in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol and high in fiber. Try to get at least 30 minutes of walking or other exercise three times a week to help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. Overweight people can drop LDL levels by dropping a few of the extra pounds."

"Heart disease and stroke are common in my family," says Yvette De Luca from Phoenix, Ariz. "I have watched fat and cholesterol since I was 18. My grandfather died of a heart attack when my father was a teen and my grandmother lived with angina until about five years ago. We no longer use any oil other than olive oil and we've cut down on whole milk and dairy products. I'm not only improving my health, but also cutting my children's chances of dying of stroke or heart disease early because if I can help my kids learn healthful eating now they won't have trouble learning it when they are adults. They are learning how to avoid the number one killer in my family. They may have genetics working against them, but they can overcome that with proper eating."

Staying Healthy
Keeping tabs on cholesterol levels is very important, especially if a family history is present. Knowing what to look for and how to interpret all the numbers and levels will also allow you to know exactly where you stand on your own health. Eat smart, exercise and educate yourself along the way to better health.

"I have my cholesterol checked every six months," says Brooks. "So far I've gotten it down by 15 points. It was never too high, but this just shows that starting to eat healthy at a young age -- instead of waiting until you get older and start having problems -- can benefit everyone."

"Even if you pass your cholesterol test with flying colors, don't throw caution to the wind," says Vance. "Cholesterol levels often increase with age and eating healthy and exercising regularly can only be of benefit to everyone."