What is Cholesterol - For Adults

about cholesterol

what is cholesterol

why be concerned

how much is in your food

cholesterol glossary

understanding test results

lowering cholesterol

cholesterol tracker

talking to your doctor

You hear a lot about cholesterol, but what is it, exactly? Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, odorless substance — a fat-like material — found only in foods made from animals.

Plant foods (such as grains, fruits, vegetables or nuts) do not contain cholesterol. The cholesterol in our bloodstream comes from the foods we eat and what our own bodies produce. Dietary cholesterol comes from food. Meats made from organs such as liver, brain and kidney are high in dietary cholesterol. Egg yolk is also high in dietary cholesterol.

Our bodies produce cholesterol because it is essential to life. Cholesterol helps to create certain hormones and plays an important role in the nervous system and the brain. Every day our bodies make 800 to 1500 mg of cholesterol to keep us healthy.

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