Cholesterol is in the news these days. A family member or someone else may take medicine for high cholesterol. Certain foods, such as eggs, are high in cholesterol. Although some foods contain cholesterol, a healthy body makes the cholesterol it needs. The liver in all animals, including humans, makes this soft, waxy substance every day. Cholesterol is in the blood and in every cell in the body. The body uses cholesterol to form healthy, strong cell membranes (walls). Without cholesterol,…

Stress causes the body to enter the "fight or flight" mode of emergency response. During this mode the adrenal gland secretes its stress hormones: adrenaline and Cortisol. These hormones also cause an increase in cholesterol production. You may have thought that cholesterol is an evil substance, but the body needs cholesterol for nerve transmission. In stressful situations, we produce cholesterol to help the body handle the emergency, but if we are under constant or frequent stress, we are…