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The Curious Bag
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Your body needs cholesterol in order to be healthy, says the American Heart Association. The liver and other cells produce most cholesterol, which is necessary for cell formation and other bodily functions.
Cell Formation
"Cholesterol forms part of every cell in the body," according to ehealthmd.com, and is needed to sustain healthy cell walls.
Bile Acids
Cholesterol is needed to create bile acids used for digestion of fat and fat-soluble vitamins. Cholesterol becomes soluble in bile and able to be eliminated from the body, explains Colorado State University's "Pathophysiology of the Digestive System."
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, which is vital for bone health, is synthesized from cholesterol in the body, states cholesterol-and-health.com.
Hormones
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol notes that Cholesterol is also the necessary precursor to the formation of hormones, including estrogen in women and testosterone in men,
Sources
Your liver and cells produce about 75 percent of blood cholesterol, and the food you eat makes up the other 25 percent. The body regulates the amount of cholesterol in your blood, producing more or less as needed.
Complications
If cholesterol levels are too high, either due to diet or a genetic predisposition, risk of heart attack and stroke is increased.
Source:
American Heart Association: What is Cholesterol?
Colorado State University: Pathophysiology of the Digestive System
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