There has been so much noise about this dreaded substance, yet very few people really understand what it is. So let me introduce you to this thing. Cholesterol is a waxy substance present in blood plasma, and in all animal tissue. Chemically, it is an organic compound belonging to the steroid family. When isolated in pure form, it is a white, odorless, and tasteless crystalline substance. Cholesterol circulates in our blood, and is produced mainly in the liver, and some other organs. We also ingest considerable amounts when we eat.
This stuff is essential to life. A lot of important bodily function depends on cholesterol. These include the production of
· Bile acids; which facilitates the emulsification of fats during digestion, and the excretion of excess cholesterol from the body.
· Steroid hormones; for the performance of key physiological functions; e.g. estrogen (promotion of female sex characteristics) androgens (for the promotion of male sex characteristics) progesterone, e.t.c.
· Vitamin D; which facilitate calcium absorption, and bone formation.
Furthermore, cholesterol is the primary component of cell membrane (that material which fences our body cells) without which our cells cannot exist; hence there will be no us.
Surprised? You may be wondering, “If this stuff is really this important, why is everybody crying out against it”? There is a good reason for this. High cholesterol levels in the body is an extremely important cause of atherosclerosis (a disorder caused by the deposition of cholesterol in the innermost layer of blood vessels, making them progressively narrower and unable to allow unhindered passage of blood; and thereby, leading to various fatal conditions, like coronary heart disease, stroke, angina pectoris, heart attack, dementia, e.t.c).
These conditions, as a group, stands among the 4 top killer diseases plaguing humanity ever since. Millions of people, from all over the world, die every year from cholesterol related ailments.
One dangerous weapon wielded by these global killers is stealth. Cholesterol accumulation in the body and deposition in blood vessels, in some individuals, commences from early adolescence. And can continue undetected, and hence unchecked, until it deals a fatal blow. For this reason, measures for reducing cholesterol levels in the body should commence as early in life as possible.
Now you know something about this stuff, not enough to make you a Professor, though; but can certainly answer the question: What is cholesterol? Moreover, knowing what is will help you know how to deal with it.