It is required by the body for normal functioning. It is present in all parts of the body, including the brain, muscle, skin and skeleton and is produced naturally by the liver. However, too much cholesterol from your diet can cause deposits to form in the walls of arteries, partially or totally blocking the flow of blood. This can cause atherosclerosis, a type of hardening of the arteries in which cholesterol, fat, and other blood components build up on the walls of the arteries. Heredity has an important effect on your cholesterol.
Cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, such as meats, cheeses and eggs.
The liver can also produce cholesterol from excess saturated fats . Triglycerides Triglycerides are oily, fat-like substances carried through the bloodstream to the tissues. Triglycerides are obtained primarily from the fat in your diet. Diabetes, obesity and the consumption of alcohol and sugar, tend to raise triglyceride levels. Triglycerides and cholesterol travel in the blood in packages called lipoproteins.