Knowing the essentials about cholesterol can reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. But understanding what cholesterol is and how it affects your health are only the start of anything… Cholesterol [source: wikipedi.org] is a lipid found in the cell membranes of all animal tissues, and is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. Cholesterol is also a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol). Because cholesterol is synthesized by all eukaryotes, trace amounts of cholesterol are also found in membranes of plants and fungi.

Causes:
1. Hereditary

2. It is also caused by taking too much rich foods and fried foods. Excessive consumption of the following:
          * Milk and its products like butter and cream
          * White flour
          * Sugar
          * Cakes
          * Pastries
          * Biscuits
          * Cheese
          * Ice cream and more.
3. Irregularity in habits, smoking and even drinking alcohol
4. Stress is also found to be a major cause of increase level of cholesterol

Remedies:

Treatment using Sunflower Seeds
    They contain a substantial quantity of linoleic acid which is the fat helpful in reducing cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries.

Treatment using Fibre
    The most significant sources of dietary fibre are unprocessed wheat bran, whole cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, rye; legumes such as potatoes, carrots, beet, and turnips, fruits such as mangoes and guavas; and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lady’s fingers, lettuce and celery.
 
Regular Physical Exercise
    Jogging, walking, swimming, playing badminton and even bicycling help promotes circulation and helps maintain the blood flow to every part of the body.

Do you have high level of cholesterol? It’s the time to avoid rich foods, palm oil and coconut oil and you should drink plenty of water. Practice 10 glasses of water everyday!