Confused about cholesterol

I have read several things about cholesterol. While some information confirmed the usefulness of cholesterol, other sources say that it is very harmful. Kindly help me to clarify.

Chuks (by SMS)

Cholesterol, a waxy, pale yellow fat, travels through the bloodstream in tiny, protein-covered particles called lipoproteins that mix easily with blood. You need cholesterol to create cell membranes, make hormones, and synthesize vitamin D, among other things.

But if you’re trying to avoid heart disease, you should keep tabs on your blood cholesterol values—especially your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol. Too much LDL in the bloodstream helps to create artery-clogging plaque, raising your risk of a heart attack. Your cholesterol report (also called a lipid profile or lipid panel) also includes your high-density lipoprotein (HDL); see the table below for recommended values. HDL has long been referred to as “good” cholesterol, based on observational studies dating back decades showing that people with high HDL levels are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease. However, the scientific understanding of HDL has evolved in the ensuing years, and many cardiologists now believe that HDL may be more of a bystander rather than a “good guy” that helps lower heart disease risk. Higher HDL levels are closely linked with behaviors like eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

Researchers have also discovered that the way HDL functions and its role in the body are more complex than once believed. The analogy that’s often used to describe HDL is a garbage truck, because it picks up extra cholesterol, or garbage, from the bloodstream and the arteries and then transports it to the liver, where it’s recycled or disposed of.

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