BASICS OF LIPIDS

The human diet is the basic source of energy for human beings. There are seven essential factors for a balanced diet: carbohydrates, proteins, fat (lipids), fibers, vitamins, minerals, and water.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is essential to your health. You obtain cholesterol from the foods you eat, but the majority of the cholesterol is produced by your liver.
Cholesterol is an important component in your blood, cells, and body tissues which your brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart use in function.
Your body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D, and bile that help to digest fat.
Cholesterol helps your nerves and brain send messages. It is also a component of body fat. Your body needs cholesterol to be healthy; however, too much cholesterol is dangerous to your health.

A total cholesterol test shows the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. A more detailed test, a lipid profile includes lipoprotein measurements that are more useful and reflective of your health.
Cholesterol travels out from your liver and into your bloodstream on fat and protein carriers called lipoproteins.
The two main types are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

LDL

Most cholesterol is LDL. LDLs transport cholesterol away from the liver and into the bloodstream.
LDLs contain more fat than protein. LDLs are more likely to connect on the walls of blood vessels, which can contribute to heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
LDLs are the bad cholesterol.
You want your LDL number to be low.

HDL

HDL cholesterol contains more protein than fats.
HDLs carry cholesterol away from your arteries and out of your body.
High HDL levels can reduce the risk of heart attack. HDLs are the good cholesterol.
You want your HDL levels to be high.