Cholesterol

Your heart and cholesterol

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance that is carried in the bloodstream and is essential for life itself.

In our bodies we have two sources of cholesterol. Some (approximately 80 percent) is produced by the liver. The other 20 percent comes from foods that we eat.

Cholesterol is carried around the bloodstream attached to proteins called "lipoproteins." Based on the density of these proteins, they may be separated into "Low Density Lipoproteins" (LDL) and "High Density Lipoproteins" (HDL) and other densities.

Low Density Lipoproteins are associated with increased risk of heart disease, whereas elevated levels of High Density Lipoproteins are associated with decreased risk of heart disease.

You can reduce your cholesterol levels by:

• Following a healthy heart eating plan.
• Doing some form of regular moderate physical activity.

For more information:

• Your weight and your heart
• Blood pressure and your heart
• Cigarette smoking and your heart
• Nutrition and your heart
• Exercise and your heart
• The heart and heart disease