It is important to maintain a healthy cholesterol level irrespective of your age. Coronary heart disease is the main cause of death in America. There are several contributing risk factors to heart disease and cholesterol is one of them that can be controlled. Not all cholesterol is bad, so a good understanding and knowledge of the facts about cholesterol can help you to live a healthier life. Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance found in the body's cells and bloodstream. You can get cholesterol in two ways. Cholesterol is produced by your liver. It is also found in animal products with high saturated fat such as meat, seafood, poultry, and dairy products. Processed foods are another culprit as they contain trans-fatty acids that can raise cholesterol.