Cholesterol is one of the fats called lipids that are found in the bloodstream.
Cholesterol is essential to your body's cell membranes, to the insulation of your nerves and to the production of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol Cholesterol and other fats attach themselves to proteins called lipoproteins in order to move through the bloodstream. LDLs transport 75 percent of the blood's cholesterol to the body's cell. When an oversupply occurs, LDLs begin to deposit the excess onto the walls of arteries where it forms layers of waxy plaque. The buildup of this plaque blocks or obstructs the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart muscle.