Regulates blood cholesterol levels

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made by the liver. It forms part of every cell in the body. Our bodies need cholesterol to:

Maintain healthy cell walls,
Make hormones,
Make vitamin D,
Make bile acids.

When the body makes more cholesterol than needed it is circulated in the bloodstream. This can lead to clogged blood vessels and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
The body makes too much cholesterol when too much saturated fat is consumed.

In addition to the cholesterol the body makes, a small percentage of cholesterol is from the foods we eat, such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Only animal-based foods contain cholesterol. Plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains do not contain cholesterol.

There are different types of cholesterol.

Low-density lipoprotein (or LDL) cholesterol is a bad type of cholesterol that is most likely to clog blood vessels, increasing your risk for heart disease.
High-density lipoprotein (or HDL) cholesterol is a good type of cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps clear the LDL cholesterol out of the blood and reduces your risk for heart disease.

Although polyunsaturated fats lower cholesterol in the body, they lower both the LDL and HDL cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, lower LDL cholesterol but have no effect on HDL cholesterol, thereby insuring that the right type of cholesterol is lowered and the ratio between LDL and HDL cholesterol is improved.