Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid found in tissue and blood.When it circulates in the blood it bonds with other substances called lipoproteins.Cholesterol can be classified according to the type of lipoprotein that transports it,among others:

• HDL,or high density lipoprotein:a high density lipid substance that transports the cholesterol deposited in the arteries to enable its excretion.HDL cholesterol is referred to as “good” cholesterol.High levels of this cholesterol in the blood are beneficial for cardiovascular health.
• LDL,or low density lipoprotein:a low density lipid substance that transports cholesterol.It is referred to as “bad” cholesterol.High levels of this cholesterol can contribute to arteriosclerosis as it “deposits” cholesterol in the arteries.

Foods that are rich in cholesterol include eggs (the yolk) and red meat,although the most important cholesterol is not that which is ingested in food but that which is synthesised by the body itself.