What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance, also called a lipid, that is found in the blood. Cholesterol originates from two major sources — dietary intake (from foods like meat, poultry, fish and dairy products) and what is produced by the liver. The liver is capable of removing cholesterol from the blood as well as manufacturing cholesterol. Too much cholesterol in our bodies can lead to plaque build-up in the blood vessels. Plaque build-up narrows the vessels and reduces the flow of blood to the body. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. There are two types of cholesterol — HDL, also known as the good cholesterol, and LDL, the bad cholesterol. Source: American Heart Association Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics (2005 Update) |
