How Does the Body Use Dietary Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is found in many meats and foods. There are two types of cholesterol, HDL and LDL. HDL is good cholesterol that assists your body in the development of certain hormones. Too much LDL can lead to heart disease. Understanding how your body uses cholesterol can be the first step in developing a healthy lifestyle.

Dietary Cholesterol

The body produces enough cholesterol on its own and needs little cholesterol from the diet. The body can regulate the amount of cholesterol it produces based on diet. The body uses cholesterol to make estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Cholesterol also helps the body make vitamin D, which is vital to bone development.

The body regulates the amount of cholesterol through intestinal bile. When bile is released into the intestine, the body can absorb needed cholesterol through the bile. Any excess cholesterol is excreted through feces. The amount of cholesterol absorbed depends on the person's diet.

LDL Cholesterol

The bad type of cholesterol, LDL, can stick to major arteries in the heart causing coronary disease. LDL cholesterol is sent to cells in the body to assist with the absorption of vitamins and hormones. However, there is a limited amount of LDL cholesterol the cells can accept. Excess LDL cholesterol is sent back into the blood stream. These excess cells stick inside arteries in the heart causing dangerous plaque.

HDL Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol can combat the harmful LDL cholesterol making it less likely to stick to the walls of the arteries. A person can regulate the amount of HDL cholesterol in his system by exercising and eating lean meat and vegetables.