What is cholesterol and why should I even care about it? I can’t see it, so is it really going to hurt me?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found among other fats in the arteries. Although cholesterol plays an important role in the building of cell membranes and other tissues, a high cholesterol level is widely considered one of the major factors in the development of heart disease. When you have too much cholesterol in your body, it collects on the walls of your arteries and could cause clotting, which might lead to a stroke. Most experts recommend you maintain a cholesterol level below 200 mg/dL, which can usually be accomplished without the use of drugs through a diet consisting of high fiber, low-cholesterol foods.

In order to combat cholesterol and its harmful effects, many experts recommend we eat at least three servings of fruit or vegetables each day, and five is even better. These foods are low in cholesterol and high in fiber. One simple way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables is to include them in snacks, salads, side dishes, deserts and entrees. You can add a wide variety of vegetables to most meat dishes, or occasionally plan completely vegetarian meals.

So the solution is simple. However, the only problem with any simple solution is it’s also just as simple not to use it.

Now you know the answer, but what are you going to do about it?