Cholesterol Facts In foods and bloods

What is the Cholesterol:
We may associate cholesterol with fatty foods, but most of the waxy substance is made by our own bodies. The liver produces 75% of the cholesterol that circulates in our blood. The other 25% comes from food. At normal levels, cholesterol actually plays an important role in helping cells do their jobs.
The body uses cholesterol to form cell membranes, aid in digestion, convert Vitamin D in the skin and develop hormones. Cholesterol is stored inside a waterproof envelope of lipids (fat), along with specific proteins that weave in and out of the envelope’s outer shell. These particles are called lipoproteins. While there are several types of lipoproteins, your cholesterol score measures just two: Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are considered “bad” cholesterol. While they carry needed cholesterol to all parts of the body, too much LDL in the system can lead to coronary artery disease, due to the buildup of LDL deposits in the artery walls.


Symptoms of High Cholesterol:

High cholesterol does not cause any symptoms. But it does cause damage deep within the body. Over time, too much cholesterol may lead to a buildup of plaque inside the arteries. Known as atherosclerosis, this condition narrows the space available for blood flow and can trigger heart disease. The good news is high cholesterol is simple to detect, and there are many ways to bring it down.