It's a key part of a healthy body, because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and other needed tissues. However, it can be a problem if you have too much of it in your body. Cholesterol comes from two sources. It's made in your body, mostly in the liver. It's also found in foods from animals, such as meats, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products.
Cholesterol travels to the body's cells through the bloodstream.
Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood, so they have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. The liver and tissues that form cell membranes and other products use some LDL cholesterol. When a person has too much LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of arteries feeding the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries.