Cholesterol Fat

Is Cholesterol Fat?

The goal of this article is to answer the question is cholesterol fat and describe how fat in cholesterol can impact your health.

The short answer to the question "Is cholesterol fat?" is yes. But the relationship between cholesterol and fat requires more than a one word answer. 

Cholesterol is a fatlike substance inside your body that comes from two sources. It is made by the body naturally, and it also comes from animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.  

Since excess fats in cholesterol can lead to heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and a variety of other health threats, you might think that all cholesterol is bad. In fact, it's not.

Fat in cholesterol helps your body make hormones, vitamin D, and bile (which you need to digest what you eat). Fat also helps regulate body temperature and provides with with a source of energy.

Trouble starts when your cholesterol contains too much of the wrong kind of fat.

Fat in LDL and HDL cholesterols

As explained elsewhere on this website, there are two different kinds of cholesterol manufactured by your body.

LDL, which stands for low density lipoproteins. LDL is also known as "bad" cholesterol because it sticks to the walls of your blood vessels and restricts circulation.

HDL, or high density lipoproteins. HDL is also known as "good cholesterol" because it attaches to the LDL and, in effect, flushes it out of your system. This keeps your blood flowing smoothly, bringing the oxygen you need to your tissues and organs.

So when your doctor measures your cholesterol levels, he or she wants to know, in effect, the ratio between "good fat" and "bad fat." If there's too much bad fat and not enough good fat in your system, you increase your risk of high blood pressure and other problems.

Types of fat from food

There are four main types of fat your body gets from outside sources (in other words, from food you eat).

Monounsaturated fat is the type of fat that's considered to be the most "heart healthy." It's believed monounsaturated fats may help to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.

Polyunsaturated fat is also considered to be "heart-friendly." It contains two fatty acids called linolenic fatty acid (also known as omega 3) and linoleic fatty acid. Your body uses these substances to produce chemicals that control blood pressure, blood clotting, and your immune system response.

Saturated fat is the type that's found in food that comes from animals. It also comes from certain oils, nuts, seeds, and avocados. Researchers believe saturated fat increases LDL cholesterol.

Trans fat is definitely bad news for your body. This type of fat is artificially produced food manufacturers. Trans fat increases LDL cholesterol while decrease HDL cholesterol.

To learn more about what foods contain the four different types of fat described above, click on low cholesterol diet, cholesterol free foods and cholesterol lowering foods. 
  

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