The cholesterol intake should be calculated and be cautiously observed. Extra production of cholesterol inside the body gets deposited inside the arteries which create obstruction for the blood to flow from the heart to different parts of the body. This, in turn, can cause stroke or heart attack.

Physically, cholesterol is a waxy substance, and is present in all animals and humans. It is appeared as white crystalline powder. It melts at around 150 degrees Celsius and boils at 360 degree Celsius.

The cholesterol is required in the mammals to create and preserve membranes and their proper fluidity. Cholesterol is also used for intracellular transport, for the nerve conduction and signaling of cells. The cholesterol is changed into bile inside the liver. This then gets stored in the gallbladder. This bile is very important since it helps in the absorption of fats in the intestine. Researchers have also shown that cholesterol also acts as antioxidant.

Cholesterol move in the arteries in packets called 'lipoproteins'. There are two types of lipoproteins:

1) Low Density lipoproteins. (LDL)

2) High Density lipoproteins. (HDL)

Low Density lipoproteins 'puts' the cholesterol to the body, whereas High Density lipoproteins extract or remove cholesterol from the body. Therefore High Density lipoproteins are considered as better then low density lipoproteins. Low LDL level and High HDL level are thought of as less risky situations. But having high LDL level means, greater amount of delivery of cholesterol to your body, which is obviously not a good thing. Similarly, low levels of HDL are not good, since it shows that the removing of extra cholesterol from your body is not taking place. The total cholesterol levels comprises of LDL level and HDL level. The 'LDL level' of below 100 is considered good but 100-129 is considered near optimal. 139-159 is the mean or borderline. Cholesterol levels above 160 are means greater risk for heart diseases. On the other hand, 'HDL level' of below 40 is serious for heart diseases and above 60 starts getting towards borderline. Combining both, 'total cholesterol level' of below 200 is best. 200-239 is considered as high and above 240 may become responsible for heart diseases.