What Is Cholesterol?
Article Sources
- 1. 'LDL & HDL: Good & Bad Cholesterol.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/ldl/hdl.htm.
- 2. 'Causes of High Cholesterol.' Heart.org, www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol.
- 3. 'High Cholesterol Diseases: Conditions & Outcome.' Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases.
- 4. 'Knowing Your Risk: High Cholesterol.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/risk/factors.htm.
- 5. 'Triglycerides and High Cholesterol: Causes, Risks & Prevention.' Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11117-triglycerides.
Cholesterol is a soft, fatty substance that is found in all of the body’s cells. It’s produced in the liver and is then transported by the blood to parts of the body where it’s needed. The body manufactures all of the cholesterol it needs to produce hormones, bile and vitamin D and requires no extra consumption to meet its needs.
Some foods from animal sources contain cholesterol, referred to as dietary cholesterol. When in excess, cholesterol can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque that easily coats artery walls, leading to the obstruction of arteries and to coronary artery disease.
