It is also absorbed from food. You cannot do without it. You can only tell your cholesterol levels by having them measured. If the balance is unfavorable, a fasting blood sample needs to be checked for all the lipid subtypes. Cholesterol and LDL in excess of what the body uses can stick to the walls of arteries, clogging blood flow, and can eventually lead to heart attacks or strokes, among other diseases.
High cholesterol is one of the five major risk factors of heart disease.
The others are having a family history of heart disease under age 55, high blood pressure, diabetes and tobacco use. First, eat less saturated fat. That glazed donut has more sat fat in it than does a Big Mac or Whopper. Check the fine print. This is the only reliable way to increase your HDL levels, and it will reduce the LDL levels as well.