Cholesterol: Know your numbers. Protect your heart.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance your body needs to help build cells and make hormones. It travels in your blood. But too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and cause heart problems or strokes.

Types of Cholesterol

LDL: Bad cholesterol – LDL cholesterol travels through your blood to your heart. If there’s too much, it can stick to your blood vessels and form a hard buildup called plaque. This can block blood flow to your heart.

HDL: Good cholesterol – HDL cholesterol acts like a cleanup crew in your body. It collects excess cholesterol that isn’t needed and transports it back to the liver, where it’s processed and eliminated. This helps keep your blood vessels clear and your circulation flowing smoothly.

You also have triglycerides:

These are fats in your blood from the food you eat. If you eat more than your body needs, it stores the extra as fat. Your body uses it later for energy. Keep your triglyceride number low and your HDL (good cholesterol) number high.

Managing & Preventing High Cholesterol

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Stay away from fatty, fried, and fast foods.
• Reduce red meat.
• Don’t smoke.
• Exercise often–even walking helps!
• Try to relax and lower stress.
• Get your cholesterol tested.

High Cholesterol and Liver Health:

Your liver makes most of the cholesterol your body needs—about 80%. It also helps get rid of extra cholesterol by turning it into bile acids. These acids turn into a liquid called “bile”, which helps break down fats from the food you eat.

But if there’s too much bad cholesterol (LDL) and fat (triglycerides) in your blood, it can build up in your liver. This can lead to problems like serious liver disease (MASLD and MASH). These conditions make it harder for your liver to work properly and keep you healthy.

Cholesterol enters your arteries through your liver and from food you eat, such as red meats, eggs, and dairy products.

You need a blood test called a “Lipid Panel” to find out if you have high cholesterol.

Contact Us

Email: info@hbi-dc.org

Phone: (202) 220-8583

Website: hbi-dc.org

Sources: cdc.gov, Clevelandclinic.org, Mayoclinic.org, Yalemedicine.org