“If you make the appropriate changes, you can lower your cholesterol and your risk for these serious health problems.”

I think cholesterol is the epitome of changing healthcare recommendations over time. And how health guidelines can sometimes just be plain wrong. Seriously, this topic can be so confusing because of all the conflicting information out there.

So I’m here today to bring you the latest information on cholesterol from the most-trusted­ resources. What that means is this post is based on scientific research findings and is the best we have right now. That’s not to say the recommendations won’t change again. They very well could. But I’m going to share with you why these guidelines do absolutely make sense and what the medical field has found to be working.

Why is this topic important?

Because high cholesterol can severely worsen your health by increasing your chance of developing cardiovascular disease. The more plaque in your coronary (heart) arteries, the more likely you are to have a heart attack. And the more plaque in your arteries, especially your carotid arteries (the ones in your neck that supply blood to your brain), the more likely you are to have a stroke.