Low cholesterol

In general, low cholesterol levels are one of the keys to a long and healthy life.

This is because while a certain low level is essential as fat is an important source of energy; a high percentage can kill you. The way to make sure you have low cholesterol intake is to pay attention to what you eat.

Cholesterol is produced largely in your liver through processing saturated fat. If you consume too much saturated fat, it can build up in your arteries as a kind of plaque and may eventually block them.

Partial blockage leads to heart disease and pains associated with angina. When blood flow to the heart becomes completely blocked, this causes you to have a heart attack. If the blood flow to the brain is blocked, you may suffer a stroke.

Therefore foods high in saturated fats should be avoided. Saturated means that these fats are solid at room temperature. However some vegetable oils have been 'hydrogenated', a chemical process which means that they also are in fact saturated. Try eating carbohydrates as a source of energy rather than fatty foods such as chips, cakes, and deep-fried processed foods. Saturated fats are also found mainly in full fat milk and fatty meat. In addition to limiting your intake of saturated fat, it's also a good idea to watch the amount of salt in your diet as this also increases blood pressure and the strain on your heart. It's also important to keep your weight down and to exercise regularly to prevent fat building up in your body.