If you are living an unhealthy lifestyle, you are increasing the risk of developing high cholesterol. Having high cholesterol is bad because it increases the risk of you having a heart attack, stroke, or high blood pressure. This article will explain the basics of cholesterol. You will learn what cholesterol is, what causes high cholesterol, and ways to manage it. After reading, you should then be able to take small steps in decreasing the amount of bad cholesterol in your body.

Cholesterol is a white crystalline substance found in animal tissues that is normally synthesized by the liver. It is important as a constituent of cell membranes, and a precursor to steroid hormones. Cholesterol is made by the body and consumed in food products that come from animals. It primarily travels in the blood as two compounds: high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). HDL is often referred to as the good cholesterol, while LDL is considered the bad cholesterol.

The primary cause of high cholesterol comes from the unhealthy foods you eat. Foods that are high in saturated fat such as butter, cheese, and whole milk are the most prone to giving a person high cholesterol. As you eat, cholesterol from food is absorbed by your digestive tract. The food then travels into your liver and circulates through your body in the bloodstream. Generally, all foods that are of animal origin have the highest amount of cholesterol.

Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol) is a fatty substance that is in all the body's cells, including the blood. Cholesterol is carried through the body in two kinds of bundles called lipoproteins (LIPE-o-PRO-teens) -- low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. It's important to have healthy levels of both.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. Some people call LDL “bad” cholesterol. The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have of getting heart disease.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are also known as “good” cholesterol. HDL helps remove cholesterol from your body, so the higher your HDL, the lower your chance for developing heart disease.

Managing high cholesterol is not an easy task. But with the right combination of medication, good health practices, enough rest and exercise and a low cholesterol diet, people with this condition can live happy, productive and fulfilling lives.