Although you might fear cholesterol, given its correlation with heart disease, it actually aids in healthy function of your body by producing hormones, building cell tissues and protecting your nerves. Problems arise when too much of this substance circulates through your blood, increasing your risk for heart disease.

Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in the bloodstream. After you eat a meal, any calories that are not needed for immediate use are converted into triglycerides. Triglycerides can then be used for energy between meals.

MayoClinic.com ranks nuts as one of five top foods to lower your cholesterol, so you can put almonds on your heart-healthy food list. But almonds, like most nuts, contain a lot of calories. If you eat too many and gain weight, you could raise your cholesterol levels. The U.S.

Cholesterol is not your body's enemy but rather an asset, aiding in cell formation and hormone production. Your liver produces the exact amount your body requires; any excess amounts come from the foods you eat and lack of physical activity, as FamilyDoctor.org explains.

Also known as 3-alpha-hydroxy-5-beta-pregned-20-one, pregnenolone is made in the body from cholesterol. Progesterone is a precursor to other steroid hormones. Some refer to DHEA as the "mother" hormone because it can be converted to estrogen or testosterone.

Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in the body. Hypothyroidism is a disease in which your thyroid gland produces too few hormones. Having hypothyroidism increases your risk for unhealthy cholesterol levels, according to "The New York Times" Health Guide, including high LDL, or "bad"

Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, is the most prevalent steroid in the body. It plays an important role in immunity, healing and growth. As a prohormone, DHEA increases more basic hormones such as testosterone, progesterone and estrogen. Pathology and age can reduce circulating levels of DHEA.

A 3.5-ounce serving of venison steak -- or 100 grams -- contains 18 milligrams of dietary cholesterol. That is less than the cholesterol in most other meats, both red and white.

"Statins" are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs to lower total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, also referred to as LDL-C. Statins work by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Results are a 20 to 50% drop in LDL-C, depending on drug and dose.

Your doctor prescribes drugs such as statins and bile acid sequestrants to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Drinking alcohol while taking these medications can offset their ability to function properly and increase the side effects of the medications.

The pancreas is located just behind your stomach in the upper abdomen. It manufactures insulin and other digestive enzymes. Pancreatitis is the medical term for inflammation of the pancreas. It can be acute, which means it occurs suddenly, or it can be chronic, meaning it happens over and over again.

Cholesterol serves many important functions in your body, but too much is dangerous. Elevated cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease because it contributes to atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty masses called plaques form inside arteries.