Cholesterol Is Not Evil -- It s Vital For Your Health

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Modern research shows that dietary cholesterol may not be as harmful as we once thought. 

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In the world of [/news/juul-what-is-it-how-does-it-work-and-is-it-safe/ controversial] and [/news/can-fasting-reverse-your-biological-age-it-can-according-to-goop-lab-experts/ downright confusing] topics in health -- cholesterol tops the list. Up until recently, it was considered basically the devil when it comes to heart health. But now we know that cholesterol itself is not the enemy. It's LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol levels in the blood that we have to worry about. 
To be clear -- cholesterol is a term used loosely, but it can mean either dietary cholesterol found in food or the cholesterol found in your body -- but the two are not the same thing. 




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For many years, the general idea was that high cholesterol can lead to heart disease, so you should avoid foods high in cholesterol -- like egg yolks for example. But in 2018, [ the research shifted] in a new direction and showed that eating dietary cholesterol does not cause heart disease, but said it's more likely trans fats or saturated fats (which are both found in foods with cholesterol) may be part of the problem. 

"Cholesterol is a waxy, whitish-yellow fat made by all animal cells. Cholesterol is a crucial building block in cell membranes and is necessary for the body to effectively produce hormones and Vitamin D," Erika Davey, physician's assistant, certified health coach and founder of [ Levity Health] tells CNET.

For more on how cholesterol works, including the science behind dietary cholesterol and the link to heart disease, keep reading below.
Why is cholesterol important?
Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol is important for your health and it serves many purposes in the body.
Cholesterol helps your body make hormones
Cholesterol is necessary for your body to [ make important steroid hormones] which are classified into five major groups:
Progestogens: Also known as progesterone, which is an important hormone for cho thuê xe ô tô hà nội female reproductive health and pregnancy.Glucocorticoids: Like cortisol, which plays a role in how the body responds to stress and it temporarily lowers inflammation when your body senses a threat. Mineralocorticoids: [ Aldosterone] is a steroid hormone that helps the body regulate blood pressure and plays an important role in heart health.Androgens: Androgens are male sex hormones; one is testosterone. Estrogens: Estrogens are one [ type of female sex hormones].Cholesterol helps make bile acids that digest and absorb fats
It may sound kinda gross, but your bile plays an important role in your health. Specifically, there are certain bile acids that you need so you can digest and absorb fats well. [ Cholesterol]helps your body produce these acids that it needs. 

Bile acids are important for helping your body produce bile flow, which is also important for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. [ Studies also show] that bile acids are important for lipid (fat), glucose (sugar) and energy homeostasis.
Cholesterol helps make vitamin D 
Cholesterol is also important for [ vitamin D] production. [/news/the-surprising-role-vitamin-d-plays-in-your-immune-health/ Vitamin D] is essential for immune health, bone health, and it plays a role in reducing inflammation. Vitamin D is one of only two vitamins that your body can produce on its own (the other is vitamin K), and you can also get it from other sources like food or supplements. 

It's also technically a hormone that regulates how much calcium is in your blood. Studies suggest that vitamin D can help[ prevent respiratory infections]or[ reduce the severity of them], especially if you have a deficiency.