Cholesterol is a type of fat, one which is very important for life. It is a vital building block of many substances, including the cell membrane of every cell in our body. The word 'cholesterol' is associated with heart disease and obesity. But cholesterol is a very important type of fat for vital living. We need some cholesterol, but the liver can make as much as we need. If the level is too high, it may be deposited in tissues, especially arteries, causing them to narrow and not carry enough blood to vital organs such as brain or heart. It may also weaken the artery, causing it to enlarge and produce an aneurysm. This process is called "arteriosclerosis". The cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources of intake and liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Offal such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content, while vegetable products contain no cholesterol. After a meal, cholesterol is absorbed by the intestines into the blood circulation and is then packaged inside a protein coat. This cholesterol-protein coat complex is called a chylomicron.
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