A search of the biomedical research papers at the U.S. National Library of Medicine reveals that there are almost 200,000 papers on the subject of cholesterol. A common conclusion in many of them is that carefully selected food choices and diets lower cholesterol levels. Conversely the wrong choice of foods can have the opposite effect of increasing cholesterol levels, and therefore increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

In the USA alone with 800,000 deaths each year (i.e. over 90 every hour) attributed to diseased arteries, and one-third of the population having elevated cholesterol levels it is a major problem that should be of concern to everyone. In addition to this, our country's levels of weight problems, obesity and diabetes have never been higher than they are today. There are a few factors that all these unhealthy conditions have in common and that will fuel these conditions, as follows:

• excess consumption of fats

• excess consumption of salt

• excess consumption of sugar

• sedentary lifestyle

• excess consumption of refined, and processed, and convenience foods

• insufficient consumption of fruits, vegetables and fiber

So whether your particular health challenge is excess cholesterol, overweight, vascular disease, heart disease, diabetes, or stroke it is likely caused by a combination of one or more of the above factors. And what should be obvious to you is that all of these unhealthy conditions are due to lifestyle choices, and are avoidable if we make different choices.

If you don't yet have any indications of these types of health problems, but your lifestyle typically is in keeping with the above factors, then the risk of you heading down this unhealthy path at some time in the future is very high.

This is not meant to be scare-mongering. If you were to take the time to look through the many research papers I mentioned above you would quickly come to the same conclusion. Most people do not have the time to do that investigation to come to that realization, and perhaps unfortunately for you neither does your doctor.

Society is founded on the flow of economic wealth. There are many people and organizations with vested economic interests in maintaining the status quo in order to protect their economic position. That can mean encouraging us to consume the more economically profitable foods. It can also mean for some health workers that having a healthier clientele may result in earning less money. The end result is that you may not necessarily be fed the right things. By fed I mean in both of its meanings - food and information.

There is no doubt that the right food choices and diets lower cholesterol levels. Not only that but such diets have the added advantage of minimizing all of those other unhealthy conditions I mentioned above. Knowing exactly what to include and exclude in your diet is not difficult.

It simply requires a little more knowledge which is the focus of other articles I have written on this subject. As a general principle if you take note of the guide I mentioned above you will be well on the right track.