Imperial, California - Don't take their word for it; ask your doctor first, warns the Association of Mature American Citizens after a new report from the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee says cholesterol is no longer "a nutrient of concern."

Cholesterol has been a hot topic in recent years among medical experts, many of whom argued that it has little to do with the risk of heart disease.  Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, says "There have been multiple analyses and meta-analyses now looking at intake of dietary cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.  In the general population, there's really not any strong evidence for a link."

But, unless Dr. Mozaffarian is your primary care physician, it would be wise to consult your own doctor to see what he or she has to say.

Meanwhile, the medical community waits to see if the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services includes the Advisory Committee's controversial recommendation in its new nutritional guidelines, which will be issued soon.