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Cholesterol and Its Health Effects

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Submitted By glswanson7
Words 659
Pages 3
Gillian Swanson
Writing Assignment #1 - Cholesterol
9/28/15

Lipids are essential to all cells; they provide structural support and energy reserves and account for 12-24 percent of the total body weight of adults (Martini, Nath, & Bartholomew, 2014). There are five major classes of lipids, but of particular interest are steroids. Steroids are large lipid molecules that serve a few important purposes in the human body. Some steroids serve as signaling molecules and others are important components of cell membranes (Martini et al., 2014). Cholesterol is a steroid that all animals produce, serving three main functions. It is used to manufacture steroid hormones, including sex hormones critical to development; it aids in the production of bile acids in the liver that digest fats; and it is an essential component of cell membranes (Isaachson, 2002). Without cholesterol, life as we know it would not be possible. When confronted with the word cholesterol, most Americans will instinctively cringe and remember the doctor’s warning after their last blood test. That is because when the body has too much cholesterol, a problem arises. Cholesterol can be deposited on the walls of coronary arteries, creating plaque and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke (“High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know”). Cholesterol is a hydrophobic molecule, so it must be packaged in lipoproteins to travel through the body. These lipoproteins are water-soluble and can travel through the body with ease. There are two main types of lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (Isaachson, 2002). LDL is known as the “bad” cholesterol. It seems to be the main source of cholesterol deposits and buildup in arteries and is linked to a high risk of heart disease (Isaachson, 2002). HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol. It seems

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