Cholesterol is a white, waxy, fatlike substance found in the bloodstream and tissues of humans and all other animals. Thus, foods that are animal in origin such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products, contain dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol in your bloodstream comes from eating such foods and from your liver, which manufactures cholesterol using the fats, proteins and carbohydrates you eat. These two types of cholesterol are chemically the same. But in excess, it can lead to heart disease.
Lipids are greasy organic compounds that circulate in the bloodstream.
Lipoproteins are packages of proteins, cholesterol and triglycerides assembled by the liver. The plaque that is formed when the residue combines with oxygen causes the arterial blockages that lead to heart attacks. Triglycerides are fats that circulate in the bloodstream along with cholesterol and other lipids. Having your cholesterol level checked is as simple as getting a blood test. You should have your first cholesterol test at age 20, then get retested every five years, or more frequently if your total cholesterol is more than 200.