What is Cholesterol?
The name Cholesterol originates from the Greek chole- (bile) and stereos (solid), and the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol, as scientists first recognized cholesterol in solid form in gallstones by François Poulletier de la Salle in 1769. On the other hand, it is only in 1815 that chemist Eugène Chevreul named the compound "cholesterine".[2]
Cholesterol is a lipid created in the cell membranes of all tissues, and it is moved in the blood plasma of all animals. Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol). For the reason that cholesterol is manufactured by all eukaryotes, trace amounts of cholesterol are as well found in membranes of plants and fungi.
The majority of the cholesterol is produced by the body and some has dietary origin. Cholesterol is richer in tissues which either produce more or have more rich densely-packed membranes, for example, the liver, spinal cord and brain. It takes a great part in many biochemical processes, for example the composition of cell membranes and the combination of steroid hormones. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood, but is moved in the circulatory system bound to one of the varieties of lipoprotein, spherical particles which have an external composed largely of water-soluble proteins. The major kinds, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) take cholesterol from and to the liver.
Pay your attention that according to the lipid hypothesis, unusually high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) and anomalous proportions of LDL and HDL are connected with cardiovascular disease by promoting atheroma growth in arteries (atherosclerosis). You should notice that this disease process leads to myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke and peripheral vascular disease. As high LDL adds to this process, it is named "bad cholesterol", at the same time as high levels of HDL ("good cholesterol") propose a degree of protection. But as a matter of fact, the balance can be restored with exercise, a healthy diet, and with the help of medication.
