It’s a fact that more than 80% of your blood cholesterol levels, when tested by your doctor, are produced by your liver. Your blood cholesterol or the cholesterol that circulates your blood is called the endogenous cholesterol meaning it is a cholesterol that is self produced and comes from an internal source- your body, or more specifically, from your liver. The other source of cholesterol (the other 20%) comes from the food that you eat - from an external source and is called the dietary cholesterol.

Dietary cholesterol comes from animal foods, which in most cases is loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat (Meat, fish, eggs and dairy products). Consuming foods that are rich in cholesterol and saturated fat can lead, in most individuals, to a direct elevation in blood cholesterol level. This increase in dietary cholesterol can result in Athrosclerosis- the narrowing and hardening of the arteries due to build up of plaque. Severe Athrosclerosis can result in heart attacks or stroke.

So what can we do? When you’re diagnosed with high blood cholesterol you are recommended to lower both your blood cholesterol and your dietary cholesterol. Of course, your blood cholesterol, the one produced by your body is sometimes very difficult to control since in most cases it depends on uncontrollable factors such as genetics. The ideal and easier solution will be to lower your dietary cholesterol consumption by decreasing or limiting the intake of foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats.

Although the recommended intake of dietary cholesterol is than less than 300 milligrams, according to the American Heart Association, The average American man consumes about 360 milligrams of cholesterol daily, while the average woman eats between 250 milligrams daily. Keep in mind that, the recommended cholesterol intake should be even lower when you’re diagnosed with high blood cholesterol.

Lowering cholesterol level, even the cholesterol produced by your body, and raising the good HDL cholesterol, is very possible through dietary changes (a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol), supplementation, exercise and yoga.