These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

Articles from our resource area experts.

Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts

Print Share/Bookmark

Cholesterol (dietary)

Last Updated: June 01, 2009 Related resource areas: Families, Food and Fitness

View as web page


Cholesterol is not a fat, but rather a fat-like substance classified as a lipid. Cholesterol is vital to life and is found in all cell membranes. It is necessary for the production of bile acids and steroid hormones. Dietary cholesterol is found only in animal foods. Abundant in organ meats and egg yolks, cholesterol is also contained in meats and poultry. Vegetable oils and shortenings are cholesterol-free.

Reprinted from the International Food Information Council Foundation, (2009)


More information

glossary, families food fitness

Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.