Cholesterol is a type of fat, also known as a lipid. It is produced by our bodies, consumed in the foods we eat, and found in every cell.

While cholesterol gets a bad rap for being linked to conditions like heart attack and stroke, healthy levels of cholesterol are necessary for the body to function properly. This is because our body needs cholesterol to make steroid hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, vitamin D, and bile acid. In addition, cholesterol is an essential building block for the structure of cell walls.

Our liver produces 75% of the cholesterol found in our bloodstream and 25% comes from our diet. However, these two factors are not the only ones that can influence whether we have high cholesterol levels. Genetics also play a role, those who have hypercholesterolemia in their family are more likely to have higher cholesterol.

In this section we will review the best lifestyle practices to keep your cholesterol levels in healthy range.