Health Topics: Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of fat called a lipid. The body uses it for many things, such as making new cells. Your liver makes most of the cholesterol your body needs. You also get cholesterol from the foods you eat. Your body needs some cholesterol. But if you have too much, it starts to build up in your arteries. This is called hardening of the arteries. It is usually a slow process that gets worse as you get older.