Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, hormones and other needed tissue. High levels of cholesterol, however, can create a high risk for a heart attack, so it's important to understand how this soft, waxy substance is formed, how to reduce it, if your level is too high and how your diet is a key factor in determining your cholesterol level. The Net pumps out the facts.

The official website of the American Heart Association can help you identify and reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke. And, as you might imagine, its practical Heart & Stroke A-Z Guide contains lots of information on cholesterol. Other must-see sections of the A-Z Guide include Dietary Guidelines for Healthy American Adults and Risk Factors and Coronary Heart Disease.

The beat goes on at the outstanding Heart Information Network, where visitors will find a wide range of information and services pertaining to lowering risk factors for heart disease. The site's incredibly useful search engine turned up mounds of excellent literature on today's topic. A search of the entire site, using "cholesterol" as the keyword, turned up articles under the heading High Cholesterol Info. A second search under the Q&A section returned additional documents that answered questions such as "What is the easiest way to get my cholesterol level checked?", "What additional things can I do to lower my cholesterol level?" and "Can low cholesterol be dangerous?"