Sources of Cholesterol

Although too much fat in the blood poses a health risk, a certain amount in the body is essential to several functions, such as maintaining cellular structures and transmitting nerve impulses.

Cholesterol is an essential fatty substance found in all of the body’s cells and transported throughout the body via the bloodstream. It’s either produced by the liver or absorbed from the foods you eat.

Genes

Genetics partly determine how much cholesterol your liver produces. Genetics also influence how much your intestine absorbs from cholesterol-containing foods (eggs, meat, dairy) and how much your body excretes.

Diet

Your diet plays a significant role in not only how much cholesterol you absorb directly from food but also how much your body produces. For example, a diet high in cholesterol may cause excessive cholesterol to be absorbed into your bloodstream. And a diet high in saturated fat may cause the liver to produce too much cholesterol.

For most people, the liver produces about 80% of the cholesterol in your body (plenty for the body to function optimally), while the remaining 20% is absorbed directly from the foods you eat.