Cholesterol and Your Brain

When you throw out the word cholesterol in a social setting, most people have heard of it but aren’t sure what it really is or may think it’s all “bad.” Cholesterol is the label for a fat-like, waxy substance found in cells of the body and you need some of it. Your body uses cholesterol to make substances that help you digest your food. It is involved in making a variety of hormones. It even impacts Vitamin D in your body. Having cholesterol levels that are too high, however, are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. But think brain health, too. Heart disease can impact brain function because it’s the heart that keeps blood flowing through the arteries of the brain, bringing glucose for fuel, oxygen, and micronutrients so you can “think.” The blood also carries waste products away from the brain. Your total cholesterol is a combination of two types. More on that tomorrow.