Only about 20% of the cholesterol in your bloodstream comes from the food you eat. Your body makes the rest.
Cholesterol has a bad reputation, thanks to its well-known role in promoting heart disease. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream is a key contributor to artery-clogging plaque, which can accumulate and set the stage for a heart attack.
But to fully explain cholesterol, you need to realize that it's also vital to your health and well-being.
