High cholesterol is a known threat to heart health. When excess amounts of this waxy, fat-like substance build up along the walls of the arteries, they create a dramatically higher risk of a complete blockage, which might lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol is an essential raw material used by the body to build cell walls and produce hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. The body produces its own supply of cholesterol in the liver, and it's found naturally in all animal products (such as meats, eggs, milk, and cheese). It poses a problem only when the body is unable to use or eliminate excessive supplies and the material accumulates in the bloodstream.

Cholesterol is classified as a lipid, one of the blood fats. It is carried through the bloodstream attached to proteins, forming complexes called lipoproteins. There are two major types of lipoproteins: the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, and the high-density lipoproteins (HDL) usually dubbed "good" cholesterol. It's the "bad" LDL cholesterol that tends to form deposits on the artery walls. HDLs, on the other hand, help to clear excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. The ideal situation to aim for, then, is a low level of LDL cholesterol, a high level of HDL cholesterol, and a moderate total of both. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood. (Information from HealthSquare.com)

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, a desirable target profile consists of:

• A total blood cholesterol level of less than 200
• An LDL level of: less than 100, if you have heart disease; less than 130, if you're at risk of heart disease; less than 160, if your risk of heart disease is low
• An HDL level greater than 40

You are generally considered at risk of heart disease if two or more of the following factors apply to you:

• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure
• Low HDL cholesterol (below 40)
• A family history of early heart disease (before age 55 in a man, or age 65 in a woman)
• Your age: being a man over age 45, or a woman over age 55

Recommended vitamins:

• Vitamin C: 1,000 mg three times a day
• Vitamin E: 400 IU daily

Recommended nutrients:

• Garlic: 400 to 600 mg daily
• Inositol hexanlacinate: 500 mg, three times a day
• Red yeast rice: 1,200 mg, twice daily
• Gugulipid: 25 mg, three times daily
• Psyllium

Foods to choose:

• High-fiber foods
• Grains
• Vegetables and fruits
• Monosaturated oils (olive oil or canola oil)

Foods to Avoid:

• Saturated fats
• Butter