Defining and understanding cholesterol metabolism requires some background knowledge of anatomical processes. The effects, causes and possible problems that may be related to cholesterol require special attention. First of all, what is cholesterol? Medical dictionaries explain that cholesterol is a substance that comes from animal-based foods. This substance is processed by the liver and it is an essential building block for healthy cells and nerves while it also serves to producing some hormones. However, you should be careful about the growth of cholesterol levels, since high concentrations can lead to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as heart attacks. Thus, in moderate amounts, this blood fat is necessary to the body.

Metabolism is the other concept that requires clarification for a full understanding of cholesterol metabolism. All the chemical reactions that happen in the body are known as metabolism. To get into more detail, there are two types of metabolism: building up ?anabolism, and breaking down ?catabolism. With anabolism, small molecules create large ones, amino acids turn into protein. Obviously catabolism involves the reversed process, larger molecules (for example glycogen) get broken down into smaller ones (like glucose).

Cholesterol metabolism is the sum of the catabolic and anabolic processes that synthesize and break the cholesterol in the body. There is a higher serum cholesterol level when the ingested quantity is higher than the body's need and ability to process. Although the liver is the cholesterol factory, the ability to synthesize cholesterol is specific to all the body tissues. The more cholesterol you consume, the less it gets synthesized by the body. The removal of cholesterol from the body is done by bile excretion after it is broken down in the liver.

There is a combination of factors that lead to increased cholesterol levels. Thus, A sedentary life style, an improper diet, a genetic predisposition, topped by weight gain turn into an extreme burden for cholesterol metabolism. High blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism and other health problems can also be a cause for high cholesterol levels. In some cases the health problems result simply from the incapacity of the liver to process too much cholesterol. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, watch your health more carefully. Unfortunately it is a lot more difficult to fight against genetic predisposition by simply sticking to diets. Medication can surely help. Dieting and developing a physical training routine are also good but they are often insufficient.