Cholesterol serves multiple important purposes. It’s the precursor to steroid hormones and vitamin D; it helps form the bile acids that aid fat digestion; and it stabilizes membranes. But in the wrong place at the wrong time for some of us, cholesterol can earn its bad reputation.

Cholesterol serves multiple important purposes. It’s the precursor to steroid hormones and vitamin D; it helps form the bile acids that aid fat digestion; and it stabilizes membranes. But in the wrong place at the wrong time for some of us, cholesterol can earn its bad reputation. The so-called “bad� cholesterol is that fraction transported from liver to tissues via low-density proteins (LDLs). Lipoproteins are particles that encapsulate fatty material and transport it through the blood. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) move cholesterol in the opposite direction, from tissues to liver, a task that earns these smaller particles their “good cholesterol� nickname. LDL cholesterol is thought to put us at risk for heart disease, via the participation of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaque, while HDLs are believed to mitigate the risk. Since cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 cause of death globally, manipulating cholesterol numbers — lowering the former and raising the latter — has become the quintessential dietary health strategy. Proven to help reduce cholesterol� is such a powerful marketing message, Minute Maid says it twice. That’s also how many times a day you should drink the orange juice. Proven to help reduce cholesterol� is such a powerful marketing message, Minute Maid says it twice. That’s also how many times a day you should drink the orange juice. Though heredity is an important determinant in LDL and HDL levels, diet can be the first line of defense against hypercholesterolemia. Eating cholesterol-laden foods has less of an effect on serum cholesterol than previously believed — even the most stringent avoidance diet can be hard-put to drop cholesterol levels more than 20 percent. However, eating the tools — the right foods and ingredients — to lower cholesterol is where diet is important. Start the day right Few breakfast foods are as traditional as oats, which made Quaker Oats a household name long before cholesterol was a hot topic. When research on health benefits of soluble fiber first broke in the 1970s, oats were the grain most nutrition experts pointed to as a way to help lower cholesterol. But at the time few cold cereals were low-sugar, healthful sources of fiber. “Smart Start Healthy Heart is the first national cold cereal containing the oat bran that may help lower cholesterol,� says Zack Madden, account coordinator for Kellogg’s (www.kelloggs.com), Battle Creek, Mich. Smart Start Healthy Heart is available in Original, Cinnamon Raisin and Maple Brown Sugar flavors. The cereal contains 2g soluble fiber from oat bran per serving. Three grams of soluble fiber daily from oat bran in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.