Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood and cells that your body needs to build cells and make hormones. Too much of certain types in your blood can increase the risk of heart disease.
“Cholesterol” comes from Greek “chole,” meaning “bile,” and “stereos,” meaning “solid,” plus the chemical ending “-ol” for alcohols. It was first discovered as a solid in gallstones.
Cholesterol isn’t simply “bad”—your body actually makes it on purpose for cell walls and hormones. The trouble comes when certain particles that carry it in your blood get out of balance, not from the molecule itself. The “good” and “bad” cholesterol labels are really about their transport vehicles, not their chemistry.
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