What is Cholesterol What is Cholesterol Type of

What is Cholesterol?

What is Cholesterol? • Type of waxy fat found in your blood • Needed to build healthy cells • Hormones, Vitamin D, substances that help you digest foods • Made in the liver and small intestine • The average diet adds another 300 to 500 mg of cholesterol • Usually way more than what your body actually needs

What type of macromolecule is cholesterol? LIPID (Not soluble in water) What type of macromolecule transports cholesterol around the body? • Because it can't dissolve in water or water-based substances (like blood), cholesterol can't easily move around in the bloodstream on its own • It catches a ride with a lipoprotein • There are 2 types of lipoproteins • HDL – good cholesterol. Helps carry LDL back to liver to be broken down. Ex: avocado, olive oil, yogurt, fish, broccoli, nuts, oatmeal, green beans and fruits. • LDL – bad cholesterol. Transports cholesterol to cells, therefore excess builds up in artery walls causing plaque formation leading to heart disease. Eggs, whole dairy products, butter, meat, fried foods and desserts. ***A balance of these two molecules keeps circulating lipids from becoming trapped inside arteries.

Function of Cholesterol in Our Body and Cells • • • It is necessary for the proper functioning of cells / organisms. Component of the cell membrane Precursor to all steroid hormones and vitamin D Required to produce some digestive acids Plays a role in learning and memory

Cholesterol Test Results/Meanings LDL (mg/d. L) Interpretation HDL (mg/d. L) Interpretation Total Cholesterol (mg/d. L) Interpretation ≥ 190 Very High < 40 Low > 240 High 160 -189 High ≥ 40 Optimal 200 -239 Borderline High 130 - 159 Borderline High < 200 Optimal 100 -129 Above Optimal < 100 Optimal

Atherosclerosis • Atherosclerosis is hardening and narrowing of your arteries. It can put blood flow at risk as your arteries become blocked. • This is due to a buildup of plaque around the artery due deterioration of the artery walls from high cholesterol, high sugar levels and chemicals. • Can cause a heart attack and stroke