"Cholesterol" is a word that most people dread hearing. Having high cholesterol automatically means that we must improve our diets and increase exercise. What people do not know is that cholesterol is actually very important to our bodies. Cholesterol is found in almost every cell in our bodies. It is a hormone that plays an extremely important role in the functioning of the body and without it our bodies would not be able to function properly. Taking the time to fully understand how cholesterol is used in our bodies is an important step to keeping ourselves as healthy as possible.
Hormone Manufacturing
Cholesterol’s main job involves assisting in the production of hormones. Cholesterol is warehoused throughout our body in various places including the adrenal glands, ovaries and the testes. It is in these “warehouses” that cholesterol is converted to steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are vital to the proper functioning of the body. According to 3Dchem.com, without these steroid hormones we would have malfunctions with weight, sex, digestion, bone health and mental status. These kinds of problems can actually make it harder for someone to lead a normal life. It can also cause our lives to be shortened and even lessen our ability to be productive members of society.
Digestion
Many people never realize how important cholesterol is to our body’s digestion. The fact is that cholesterol is used to help the liver create bile. This bile is the fluid which aids us in digesting and breaking down foods before they enter the colon. Without bile, our bodies would be unable to properly digest foods, especially foods that contain fat. Undigested fat can get into the bloodstream and cause serious medical problems such as blocked arteries, heart disease and heart attacks. This fat in the blood also causes cholesterol to be high, which can essentially increase the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
Building Block
Another important job of cholesterol is as a structural component of cells. Cholesterol works along with polar lipids to make up the structure the cells in our bodies. Cholesterol can actually be considered a protective barrier that protects our cells from harm. The level of cholesterol is perfectly balanced in these cells. However, if the amount of cholesterol in this cell increases or decreases, the cell can be affected. This subtle change can affect our ability to metabolize and produce energy. This can affect our diets, weight and ability to exercise. Without the right amount of cholesterol, our bodies cannot do their most basic functions and this can lead to very serious health concerns.
Source:
3Dchem.com; Cholesterol; 2009
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