How does diet affect blood cholesterol?
Diets high in total fat, cholesterol and saturated fats contribute to high blood cholesterol. Both, the amount and the type of fat influence blood cholesterol. All fats are composed of either saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Food fats generally contain a mix of all these kinds of fatty acids. It is primarily the saturated fats that are linked to higher blood cholesterol levels. Dietary cholesterol is the cholesterol found in the food we eat. All animal food products contain some cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol seems to contribute to higher blood cholesterol when consumed in large amounts along with saturated fats. People differ in their ability to handle cholesterol in the diet because the level at which our body manufactures cholesterol also varies. Even if we do not eat any cholesterol, the liver would manufacture enough to meet the body’s needs. As we increase our consumption of dietary cholesterol,
