Cholesterol is found in
every cell of the body and has important natural functions. It is manufactured
by the body but can also be taken in from food. It is waxy and fat-like in
appearance.
Cholesterol is oil-based and so does not mix with the blood,
which is water-based. It is therefore carried around the body in the blood by
lipoproteins.
The parcels of
cholesterol are carried by two types of lipoprotein:
§ Low-density
lipoprotein (LDL - cholesterol carried by this type is known as 'bad'
cholesterol)
§ High-density
lipoprotein (HDL - cholesterol carried by this type is known as 'good'
cholesterol).
Cholesterol has four main functions,
without which we could not live. It:
§ Contributes
to the structure of cell walls
§ Makes
up digestive bile acids in the intestine
§ Allows
the body to produce vitamin D
§ Enables
the body to make certain hormones.
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