What Is Cholesterol

If you are unfamiliar with cholesterol, you may wonder, what is cholesterol,

what is high cholesterol or what is good cholesterol.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute defines cholesterol as “a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body.”

High cholesterol may cause artery walls to have a buildup of cholesterol clogging the passageways. If blood flow is clogged or slowed, the patient is at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Not all cholesterol is bad, though. High density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good cholesterol while low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is considered bad cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol is good because it takes cholesterol from different parts of your body and transports it to the liver where it is removed from your body.

LDL cholesterol is bad because it clogs the arteries, restricts the flow of blood, and puts you at risk for a variety of heart conditions, including coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, carotid artery disease, and stroke.

However, there is new research that suggests that not all LDL cholesterol is bad or even a risk factor for heart disease.

We need cholesterol as linings of the cells as a wall between cells and also as lining of the blood vessels like arteries , as blood tends to corrode the artery walls.

Eating a healthier diet, getting some fresh air and good exercise, are all the things you can do to live a healthier life.

Bad cholesterol food