Cholesterol is a waxy and soft fat that assists the body in performing its natural functions. As with many aspects of the human body, excess and imbalances cause more havoc than assistance.

When fats are absorbed in the intestines, they get processed and then filtered to the liver. While in the liver, the fats are split into two types referred to as triglycerides and cholesterol.

The bloodstream delivers LDL and HDL proteins throughout the body. This process goes without disturbance just as long as the body is not under any immediate stress.

The fats need a mechanism to allow their distribution for immediate use or for storage in fat cells (to be used later). Using the bloodstream as a delivery system, cholesterol and triglycerides are distributed throughout the body by proteins called lipoproteins. There are three types of lipoproteins: Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), and Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL).

Cholesterol comprises cell walls and membranes, and aids in the production of hormones, bile acids and vitamin D. It’s also supposed to support the cell connections in the brain that are responsible for memory and learning.

The human body is naturally able to produce the amount of cholesterol that is needed on a daily basis. When cholesterol level rises in the blood, it causes more harm than assistance.

Too much cholesterol deposits by LDL narrows the blood vessels which restricts blood flow. This cholesterol may attach itself to the heart’s arteries - a common factor in strokes or heart disease. This is also known as atherosclerosis - the process of bad cholesterol formation within organ structures.

This is why LDL is labeled as ‘bad cholesterol’. On the other hand, HDL is known as ‘good cholesterol’. It works in the opposite way, by actually taking ‘bad cholesterol’ back to the liver.

There are many factors such as diet, heredity and exercise that affect one’s cholesterol level. It’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with high cholesterol.

Make it a habit to check your cholesterol level on a regular basis.

Tags: cholesterol, HDL, LDL, lipoproteins, triglycerides

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