Cholesterol: A friend or a foe?

Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important natural functions when it comes to digesting foods, producing hormones, and generating vitamin D. It is manufactured by the body but can also be taken in from food. It is waxy and fat-like in appearance. Fast facts on cholesterol Here are some key facts about cholesterol. Find more detail and supporting information in the article. Cholesterol: Definition and meaning Cholesterol is an oil-based substance and does not mix with the blood, which is water-based. It is carried around the body through the blood by lipoproteins. Two types of lipoprotein carry the parcels of cholesterol: 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 primary functions, without which we could not survive, these are: ...