What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of blood fat that is made in the liver. It’s found in some foods, too.
The human body needs some cholesterol to keep us going, but just like anything in this world, having too much of anything is bad.
There are two types of cholesterol.
- Low-density lipoprotein: This is sometimes considered “bad cholesterol.” It makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
- High-density lipoprotein: This is considered the “good cholesterol.” It absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver then flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.