Fats in our body – cholesterol, triglycerides and other essential fatty acids – are really important to:
- store energy
- insulate us
- protect our vital organs
They act as messengers, helping proteins do their jobs. They also start chemical reactions that help control growth, immune function, reproduction and other aspects of basic metabolism.
The cycle of making, breaking, storing and mobilizing fats is at the core of how humans and all animals regulate their energy. An imbalance in any step can result in disease, including heart disease and diabetes. For instance, having too many triglycerides in our bloodstream raises our risk of clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Fats help the body stockpile certain nutrients as well. The so-called “fat-soluble” vitamins—A, D, E and K—are stored in the liver and in fatty tissues. (https://www.livescience.com/9109-fats-body.html)
Feedy asks the Doctor what cholesterol is
There are 2 main types of cholesterol : HDL (good) and LDL (bad).
LDL is unhealthy, while HDL is protective.
Liver (but other organs too) makes cholesterol, that our body needs (we already said why before). LDL brings the cholesterol into the cells and HDL transports cholesterol in excess to your liver to be expelled from your body. HDL helps rid your body of excess cholesterol so it’s less likely to end up in your arteries. If HDL is low, the cholesterol in excess causes atherosclerosis.
