Cholesterol and triglycerides are soft fats found in the bloodstream and throughout the body. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cholesterol and triglycerides are necessary for producing essential hormones and as a source of energy. However, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can build up on the walls of the arteries and form blood clots, which lead to a heart attack. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels can return to normal through adoption of a more healthy diet. If the wrong diet can promote heart disease, the right one can reduce the risk. This is true, even in the face of such unalterable risk factors such as advancing age and family history of heart attacks.