What is cholesterol
and why is it important?

Everybody talks about cholesterol but do you every wonder, "What is Cholesterol?"

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work correctly and it is capable of making all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in some of the foods you eat.

Your body uses cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.

What is cholesterol like? Blood is watery, and cholesterol is fatty. Just like oil and water, the two do not mix. To travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). The small packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body. It is important to have healthy levels of both.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is sometimes called bad cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries. The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have of getting heart disease. Read about foods that lower cholesterol naturally.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is sometimes referred to as good cholesterol. HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. The liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease. See 6 methods for raising your good cholesterol.

What are the dangers of high blood cholesterol?

Cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body). This buildup of cholesterol is called plaque (plak). Over time, plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries. This is called atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis), or hardening of the arteries.

Special arteries, called coronary arteries, bring blood to the heart. Narrowing of your coronary arteries due to plaque can stop or slow down the flow of blood to your heart. When the arteries narrow, the amount of oxygen-rich blood is decreased. This is called coronary heart disease (CHD). Large plaque areas can lead to chest pain called angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh). Angina happens when the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina is a common symptom of coronary heart disease.

Some plaques have a thin covering and can burst (rupture), releasing cholesterol and fat into the bloodstream. The release of cholesterol and fat may cause your blood to clot. A clot can block the flow of blood. This blockage can cause angina or a heart attack.

Lowering your cholesterol level decreases your chance for having a plaque burst and cause a heart attack. Lowering cholesterol may also slow down, reduce, or even stop plaque from building up.

What are healthy cholesterol levels?

Total Cholesterol Level
Less than 200 mg/dL - Desirable
200–239 mg/dL - Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above - High

LDL Cholesterol Level
Less than 100 mg/dL - Optimal
100–129 mg/dL - Near optimal/above optimal
130–159 mg/dL - Borderline high
160–189 mg/dL - High
190 mg/dL and above - Very high

HDL Cholesterol Level
Less than 40 mg/dL - A major risk factor for heart disease
40–59 mg/dL - The higher, the better
60 mg/dL and above - Considered protective against heart disease

Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Now you've got the answer to "what is cholesterol?" If you want to review herbs and supplements that reduce cholesterol, click this link.

The information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice or diagnose or treat any health condition. The statements on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.