| The Importance of Cholesterol in the Body |
Defenition: Cholesterol is a high molecular wight sterol. Cholesterol is not a fat. (It is fat soluble.)
Functions
1. Cholesterol is an important component of the cell membranes, including organelle membranes inside the cell. (The body contains billions of cells.)
2. The right proportion of phospholipids, fatty acids, and cholesterol in cell membranes allows them to be flexible while still holding their shape.
3. "Cholesterol is used by the body as rae material for the healing process. This is the reason the injured ares in the arteries (as in atherosclerosis)...have cholesterol along with serveral other components (such as calcium and collagen) in the 'scar' tissue that is formed to heal the 'wound'."
4.Cholesterol is found in large amount in brain tissue where it is nedded for normal brain function. Research has shown that cholesterol in eggs is helpful to older people whose memory is declining.
5. Cholesterol often ele
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