Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the body's cells. It's used to form cell membranes, certain hormones and other necessary substances.
People get cholesterol in two ways.
An additional 400 to 500 mg or more can come directly from foods. Typically the body makes all the cholesterol it needs, so people don't have to consume it to maintain their health. Besides its presence in human tissues, cholesterol is also found in the bloodstream. The blood transports it to and from various parts of the body. Hypercholesterolemia is the term for high levels of cholesterol in the blood.