Cholesterol is the Greek word
"chole" - means bile, "stereos" - means solid, and the
chemical suffix "ol" - means alcohol, Cholesterol is first seen in
solid form in gallstones.
Cholesterol sources
Cholesterol
is found in the human blood circulation, it comes from two major
sources; diet and by liver production. Dietary cholesterol sources are
meat (Organ liver is especially high in cholesterol), poultry, fish,
and dairy products, while foods of plant contain no cholesterol.
Cholesterol function
Cholesterol has many useful and important functions in our body systems, they are:
Cholesterol build and maintenances of cell membranes.
Cholesterol regulates membrane fluidity over different physiological temperatures.
Cholesterol does intracellular transportation, cell signals and nerve conductions.
Liver
uses cholesterol to produce bile and stored in the gallbladder. Bile
supports digestion by dissolving fats in the digestive tract and aid in
the intestinal absorption of fat.
Liver uses cholesterol to produce fat soluble vitamins; A, D, E and K.
Cholesterol
is used in the synthesis of the steroid hormones; the adrenal gland
hormones cortisol and aldosterone, the sex hormones progesterone,
estrogens, and testosterone.
Some research indicates, cholesterol may have some antioxidant property.
All information is intended for
your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice
or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt
medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician
before starting a new fitness regimen.
