Definition: Blood cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver. Blood cholesterol is essential for good health. Your body needs it to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting fatty foods.The two types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is bad, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is good. Too much of the bad kind, or not enough of the good kind, increases the risk cholesterol will slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

You can take steps to lower your high LDL cholesterol levels by making healthy changes to your lifestyle, such as choosing foods lower in saturated and Trans fats and maintaining a healthy weight.