Cholesterol is a chemical compound found in the bloodstreams of the human body. It is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body and is mostly composed of lipids and fats. The human body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest food. The food being consumed is also responsible for the levels of cholesterol in the body. Common food products that contain cholesterol The common food products such as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, meat and fish produce a high amount of cholesterol in the body. Even low-fat milk is said to have some content of cholesterol in it. Liver is the organ that handles the generation of these lipids. Types of cholesterol Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoproteins is important. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL cholesterol sometimes is called good cholesterol because it lowers the risk of a heart attack, strokes, and many other heart diseases. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL cholesterol sometimes is called bad cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries making you prone to life-threatening ailments such as a heart attack, stroke and other heart ailments.

Cholesterol is an organics molecule which is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of the membrane to maintain the structural integrity and fluidity. For humans, cholesterol is a type of fat which is found in the blood. The main function of cholesterol is boosting brain and skin and organs growth over the years till your organs stop growing at some point. But cholesterol levels have to be maintained in the balance as too much or too little can lead to complications. Cholesterol is essentially fat and too much fat in the body is not good for health. Too much of anything is not good for health, and hence, a proper well-balanced diet ensures that the cholesterol intake is balanced and there is no over or under consumption through everyday foods like meat, eggs, fish, butter, cheese, and milk which are all cholesterol-rich foods. Essentially the liver is responsible for producing cholesterol, along with what is found in day-to-day food staples, depending on your diet. Diet is everything when it comes to maintaining the perfect balance of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and essential amino acids for proper bodily functions. Since the facts are present in the blood stream, improper or increased intake of cholesterol-rich foods can force to clog the arteries carrying blood vessels through the body and reduce the blood supply.

Cholesterol is a type of fat or lipid found in the blood. It’s manufactured by the liver and is a critical building block of cell walls, hormones, and digestive juices. Increased levels of cholesterol lead to accumulations of it in the blood vessels and make it difficult for the blood to flow through the arteries. This results in a condition called atherosclerosis and may cause heart attacks when enough oxygen-rich blood fails to reach the heart. A decreased blood flow to the brain due to atherosclerosis can cause a stroke. A high level of cholesterol can cause heart diseases and strokes. It leads to a high blood pressure and causes diabetes too. Kinds of cholesterol There are two kinds of cholesterol: 1.LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or Bad cholesterol is the one associated with increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by causing atherosclerosis. 2. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or Good cholesterol helps in reducing the risks of heart attacks, heart diseases, and strokes. High levels of LDL cholesterol doesn’t produce any symptoms as such. Adults are advised to get their levels tested at least once every five years. Lipid profile test or lipid panel test is the blood test associated with testing cholesterol levels.