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Of late, cholesterol intake in the diets has become a very significant cause of concern for many people who are suffering from high blood pressure to minimize their chances of a stroke. More and more people have become conscious about their cholesterol intake and are regularly monitoring their diets. They have been very cautious about cholesterol intakes to prevent an accumulation of fats in their arteries.

Strokes have become a major cause of death in Americans who suffer from obesity and do not indulge in any kind of regular physical exercise. Indulgent lifestyles coupled with busy jobs have deprived people of any time for themselves and also healthy nutritious diets. Today's burgeoning fast food chains have ensured that people continue to stuff themselves with an uncontrolled amount of saturated fats found in meat that is consumed by them.

Cholesterol is very significant for our body because it aids in functions like production of hormones, repair of damaged cells and bile acids. Cholesterol plays a very vital role in the production of steroid hormones like Estrogen, Cortisone and Testosterone. These hormones are found in both the female and male bodies but in different proportions.

Cholesterol itself is a waxy substance found in the blood carried by unique molecules called lipoproteins. Cholesterol is built by the liver after metabolism of fats that we eat and is integral for biochemical processes like manufacturing of cell membranes. Cholesterol consumption is also necessary for formation of vitamin D which is essential for strong teeth and bones.

There are two kinds of cholesterol that are found in the body:

' High density lipoprotein (HDL): This kind of cholesterol is a beneficial cholesterol for the body as it carries the fatty acids from the arteries to the liver preventing chances of artery clogging or atherosclerosis and hence minimizing chances of a stroke and heart disease.

' Low density lipoprotein (LDL): This sort of cholesterol accumulation is very harmful for the body as it transports fatty acids back to the tissues which can lead to a very severe atherosclerosis. This condition is the indicator of high chances of occurrence of a heart attack by obstructing blood flow in the arteries. The build-up of this harmful cholesterol in the body can be attributed to an increased consumption of saturated fats which is present in high quantities in foods like crackers, coconut cookies, coconut oil, butter, ice-cream, crackers and cheese. Saturated fats are also present in very high quantities in products like meat and eggs.

It is recommended that a person relies more on consumption of unsaturated fats for consumption of cholesterol like avocado oil, fruits and vegetables, vegetable oil, refined oil, and nuts which contain a higher amount of dietary cholesterol.

To have lower levels of cholesterol in the body, a person should include more physical exercises in his daily regimen. Some levels of minimum cholesterol are very essential for the body for cell growth, hormone production and strong bone structure. Therefore, this lipid should be consumed but only the good cholesterol, which is lower density lipoprotein.