Cholesterol is part of what you are

It's good for you as well as bad for you!

Cholesterol is a waxy substance/fat (actually called a lipid) that exists in all parts of the body and your blood, and is an important part of the outer lining (membrane) of cells in the body of animals. It is also important for generating some hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterol is produced by your body as well as coming from the food you eat.

Cholesterol is made in the body mainly by the liver. This is often called blood cholesterol. Cholesterol from what you eat is called diatery cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal fats eg: meat, eggs, whole milk, poultry (the skin), and sea food other than fish.

Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are several kinds, but the ones to focus on are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Get your cholesterol tested

Cholesterol is different from most tests in that it is not used to diagnose or monitor a disease but is used to estimate risk of developing a disease - specifically heart disease. Because high blood cholesterol has been associated with hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), heart disease, and a raised risk of death from heart attacks, cholesterol testing is considered a routine part of preventive health care.