What Is Cholesterol?

Surely, you've heard of cholesterol, regardless of how much you actually know about it. In fact, many people have even heard the terms "good" and "bad" cholesterol, given their rising prevalence in the news and recent studies.

But, the question for many remains: What is cholesterol? And how does it affect our bodies?

Well, cholesterol is made by the liver. Just about every animal that is eaten for food produces cholesterol in this manner. After it's produced in your own body, or absorbed from the food you eat, it's then carried through the bloodstream by particles known as lipoproteins.

It's interesting to note that your body accounts for 75 percent of your overall cholesterol levels, while your diet only contributes to the remaining 25 percent.

Anyway, these lipoproteins are made up of fat and protein. However, which they contain more of determines if they are "bad" or "good." If they contain a higher proportion of fat, they can stick to your blood vessel walls as they speed through your veins and arteries.

Over time, this accumulates and forms hardened plaque, thus reducing the flow of blood to your heart -- and hence the "bad" label. The scientific term for bad cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL.

On the other hand, lipoproteins that contain a higher proportion of protein serve a different and much healthier function. Their main task is to carry cholesterol away from your heart and out of the body. The higher your levels of these "good" lipoproteins, or high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the lower your risk of dying from a heart attack.

In other words, you want to raise your HDL and lower your LDL. Unfortunately, there are no significant symptoms of high cholesterol, so the only way to know where you stand is to see your doctor.

And, don't think just because you aren't overweight, you aren't at risk. Even seemingly healthy and fit individuals can succumb to high cholesterol.

So, remember: While the vast majority of cholesterol comes from your own body, you are in control of the other 25 percent. Even with a family history of high cholesterol, you have the power to even the odds by making the right nutritional decisions and getting regular exercise.

Hopefully, that clears some things up for you and will encourage you to get your cholesterol levels checked at your next checkup. It's never too early to find out where you stand, so you can start planning for the future.

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