The connection of diet and cholesterol can be understood from the fact that by modifying diet one can reduce bad cholesterol by 10% to 20%. Fats in diet are mainly of two types saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats and dietary cholesterol increase blood cholesterol.  Dietary cholesterol is found in foods that source from animals. It is found in eggs, meat, fish, shellfish and poultry.

Particularly rich sources of cholesterol are egg yolks, meats like liver, kidney and brain. Saturated fats are found in products like butter, cheese, milk and ice-creams. Fish comparatively has low level of cholesterol. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals, seeds and grains have no cholesterol. It is not necessary that foods high in cholesterol are also high in fats.

Cholesterol is found in both high-fat animal food and in low-fat animal foods. Meats like liver are not high in fats but are high in cholesterol.  Foods much worse for our heart than saturated fats are hydrogenated or Trans fats consumption of which results in atherosclerosis. Losing weight is also an important way of reducing blood cholesterol. Reduction of fats in diet reduces cholesterol and calories also. Various vegetable oils are also a source of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats not only help in reducing cholesterol but are a substitute to saturated fats. Diet with high fiber increases good cholesterol..