Cholesterol is a molecule found in every cell in the body and present in large amounts in nerve tissues and in the brain. Cholesterol appears in the skin, the adrenal glands and the liver, while being a main ingredient in the fatty sheath that insulates the nerves.

Cholesterol is an important part of sex hormones and bile as the enzyme that helps to digest fat. Bottom line, cholesterol is vital to the structure and function of all cells in your body and an essential component of cell membranes.
The body makes its own Cholesterol from the liver, producing a gram each day, or about 80% of what you need, with the rest from dietary sources. It’s the excessive Cholesterol our bodies can’t use that becomes a health risk and risk marker.
Cholesterol is carried in the body through blood by combining with proteins to make lipoproteins. Lipoproteins attach to cell surfaces to transfer the cholesterol where needed by the body.

LDL, or low-density lipoproteins known as “bad” cholesterol, have more cholesterol than protein. Too much LDL and cells become saturated with cholesterol then deposited in your artery walls. HDL, or high-density lipoproteins known as “good” cholesterol, have more protein and less cholesterol. HDL picks up the extra cholesterol in the artery walls and transports it to the liver for disposal. A high HDL level can help offset damage high LDL levels can cause. Generally speaking, normal total cholesterol should be less than 200. HDL cholesterol should be greater than 59, with LDL cholesterol less than 100. Triglycerides should be less than 150. However, people with known heart disease and diabetes are advised to maintain lower levels than average.