What Cholesterol Is
The word cholesterol may not a new word for you especially if you are on cholesterol diet. What is actually cholesterol? Let’s find out here.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and found in certain foods. It is important for our body because it is needed to make vitamin D and some hormones, build cell walls, and create bile salts that help us digest fat.
Our body produces enough cholesterol since the liver produces about 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol a day. So, actually we don’t need any more cholesterol input from foods. However, it’s hard to avoid cholesterol entirely because so many foods contain it.
Cholesterol which is a type of lipid can be found in foods from animal sources. It means that eggs, meats, and whole-fat dairy products (including milk, cheese, and ice cream) are loaded with cholesterol, while vegetables, fruits, and grains contain none. So, it’s obvious that cholesterol is important for our body and we need it, but in certain amount.