WhatIsCholesterol

Pure cholesterol is an odorless, white waxy-powdery substance. You cannot taste it or see it in the foods you eat. Cholesterol is found in all foods of animal origin and is part of every animal cell. Your body uses cholesterol to make essential body substances such as cell walls and hormones, as well as for various other functions. Even if you didn't eat any cholesterol, your liver would manufacture enough for your body's needs. Cholesterol is like other fatlike substances in that it will not mix with water, therefore, to carry cholesterol and fat ("lipid") in the blood, the body wraps them in protein packages. This combination is called a "lipoprotein". Blood cholesterol is found in all the major lipoproteins, including the low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and the high density lipoproteins (HDLs).

TRIGLYCERIDES: Another kind of lipid (blood fat). It is the main type of lipid found in the fat tissue of the body and also the main type of fat found in foods. Elevated triglyceride levels can be reduced by weight loss, increased physical activity, and reduced intake of saturated fats.

GLUCOSE: High blood sugar or glucose could be indicative of diabetes. Inability to maintain normal blood level for glucose could be an indication of insulin deficiency.

HDL...THE "GOOD" CHOLESTEROL: HDLs are the high density lipoproteins. HDLs contain the greatest amounts of protein and small amount of cholesterol. They are believed to take cholesterol away from cells in the artery wall and transport it back to the liver for reprocessing or removal from the body. Researchers have noted that persons with higher levels of HDL have less heart disease. Thus, HDLs have become known as the "good" cholesterol.

LDL...THE "BAD" CHOLESTEROL: LDLs are the low density lipoproteins that contain the greatest amounts of cholesterol and may be responsible for depositing cholesterol in the artery walls. For that reason they are sometimes known as the "bad" cholesterol.