[Cholesterol demystified].

A favorite subject of newspapers, periodicals or television programs, is that cholesterol has invaded our lives. Although well known as being undesirable, for blocking the arteries and contributing to cardiovascular diseases which kill thousands of Canadians each year, the flood of information of diverse quality leaves most of us puzzled. This paper aims to answer the main questions about cholesterol, trying to better define its relationship to cardiovascular diseases and to provide useful dietary advice to help control this risk factor.