Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the fats in the bloodstream and in all cells of the body. These substances are physically unable to dissolve in the blood, and need to be transported to and from cells by carriers call lipoproteins.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), or the good cholesterol, collects excess cholesterol in the blood and delivers it to the liver. Here, it undergoes reprocessing and is discharged. Low Density Lipoprotein, or LDL, also know as the bad cholesterol, when in excess, builds up on the arterial walls and can increase the risk of heart disease. The types of fats we consume play an important role in our levels of serum or blood cholesterol.