Cholesterol: The good, bad, and ugly

Cholesterol, commonly portrayed as a villain in the play of life, is essential (in proper amounts) in body functions. It’s involved in the production of hormones, helps the liver manufacture acids vital in digesting fats, and is one of the main components in building cell membranes and other structures. Without it, we wouldn’t exist. Unfortunately, in excessive amounts, cholesterol builds up in our arteries in fatty deposits called plaques, ultimately causing potentially fatal blockages.

Lipids (proper name lipoproteins) – or fatty cholesterol components – are a kind of blood borne conveyance for cholesterol. The most common form is low density lipoprotein, or LDL – often referred to as “bad” cholesterol because it appears to play a central role in plaque buildup and the subsequent development of coronary artery disease.

High density lipoprotein, or HDL – “good” cholesterol – helps remove cholesterol from artery walls and transport it to the liver for excretion. There’s also very low density lipoprotein, or VLDL, a precursor to LDL that hauls triglycerides, another kind of fat.