Contrary to common belief, cholesterol itself isn't that bad. It is a fatlike substance that your body creates and also absorbs from the food you eat. In fact, your body cannot function properly without cholesterol. However, too much cholesterol creates a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, the main causes of mortality in many countries around the world. View the table of cholesterol content in foods now. It should be mentioned that the vast majority of doctors and medical scientists consider that there is a link between cholesterol and atherosclerosis; however a small group of scientists, united in The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics, questions the link.