High Cholesterol Causes
Article Sources
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Cholesterol is a lipid, one of the body's necessary fatty substances. A healthy liver produces enough for food digestion and other essential processes. However, diet also boosts cholesterol levels, specifically animal products.
Proteins carry cholesterol lipids in the blood, forming lipoprotein spheres. High-density lipoprotein removes some cholesterol from artery walls and returns it to the liver for removal. So, HDL is categorized as good cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein delivers cholesterol to the body's cells. LDL is considered bad cholesterol because too much causes arterial plaque buildup, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Both low LDL and high HDL are necessary to support a heart-healthy balance.1‘Why cholesterol matters.’ American Heart Association, 6 Nov. 2020, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol.
