Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in the body. High levels of this material are associated with an increased risk of heart disease such as heart attacks and angina. Cholesterol can be introduced to the body through food and is also manufactured in your body by your liver. Your blood cholesterol level encompasses three types of fat: high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. The first two are the types of cholesterol found in your body. Excessive amounts of these fats in your body can raise your blood cholesterol levels.
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats can be introduced into your body through food. According to the American Heart Association, saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fats can be found mostly in foods of animal origin, such as red meat, poultry with the skin on it and whole-milk dairy products. Some plant foods like coconuts, coconut oil, palm kernel, palm oil and cocoa butter also contain saturated fats. Consuming foods that are high in saturated fat can directly increase your cholesterol levels.
Hydrogenated Fats and Trans-Fatty Acids
When vegetable oils are heated in the presence of hydrogen, they become either partially or totally hydrogenated. Adding hydrogen to unsaturated oil or hydrogenating vegetable oil results in a change in its chemical structure that makes it solid instead of liquid at room temperature. Vegetable oils or unsaturated oils that have gone through the process of hydrogenation during food processing are converted into trans-fatty acids.
Trans-fatty acids can increase your risk for heart disease because they rais- low density lipoproteins, also called "bad cholesterol," in your body and lower your "good cholesterol," or high-density lipoprotein blood levels. They can be found in commercially prepared foods like baked goods such as crackers, cookies and cakes; fried foods such as doughnuts and french fries; shortening; and margarine. When you eat foods that contain trans-fatty acids or hydrogenated fats, your blood cholesterol levels may rise, putting you at risk for heart disease.
Dietary Cholesterol
Cholesterol occurs naturally in your body because it is produced by the liver. It is also found in foods that we consume. Cholesterol-rich foods can raise your blood cholesterol levels, but not as much as foods with saturated fats or trans fatty acids. The body's response to cholesterol-containing food is different for every individual. Certain people may consume foods rich in cholesterol and experience a modest change in their cholesterol levels, while others may have increased blood cholesterol levels when they consume dietary cholesterol. Sources of dietary cholesterol include meat, poultry with the skin on it, seafood, eggs, dairy products and butter.
