Health Tips – What is Cholesterol?

Are you confused about cholesterol? Wondering how to tell the difference between “good” and “bad,” “high” and “low,”  “saturated” and “unsaturated?”

Confusing as the subject may be, the bottom line is clear. Lowering your cholesterol can substantially reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke.  Learning how to control your cholesterol levels will deliver many long-term health benefits and is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat made naturally in your liver. Fat has a bad reputation because people think it’s unhealthy. But, in fact, you need a certain amount of fat in your bloodstream to keep your body functioning normally. Fats provide energy-rich sources of fuel for vital organs and are key building blocks in the production of cells and hormones.

There are two major types of blood fats: cholesterol and triglyceride.
These fats travel through your bloodstream by attaching themselves to certain proteins, forming a combination called lipoprotein.

The term “cholesterol” usually refers to two types of lipoprotein:

• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) – LDL contains approximately 25% protein and 45% cholesterol. Your body needs some LDL for cell growth and repair. However, when there is too much LDL in your bloodstream, it causes cholesterol to build up on the walls of your arteries, blocking the normal blood flow. That’s why LDL is usually referred to as “bad” cholesterol

• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) – HDL contains nearly 50% protein and 20% cholesterol. Commonly referred to as “good” cholesterol, HDL prevents LDL cholesterol deposits, called plaque, from building up in your arteries

Although cholesterol is the fat that everyone worries about, triglyceride is actually the most common type of fat in your body. Triglycerides form a very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) that contains only a small amount of protein and cholesterol. Triglycerides are usually stored in fat cells until they are released for use as an energy source.