Cholesterol is a loaded buzzword coated with controversy. One moment it’s the big bad wolf of your diet you need to watch out for, and the next, it’s beneficial for heart health. One moment eggs are unhealthy, and the next, they’re back on a nutritious plate. What is cholesterol, and what are normal cholesterol levels? What does it mean when you’re following a ketogenic diet, and you have high cholesterol? Most importantly, can you improve cholesterol on keto?What Is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance essential for life and found in virtually every cell of your body. Cholesterol is necessary for various bodily functions, such as:Producing hormones (such as testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and vitamin D3!)Creating bile acids (liver converts cholesterol into bile acids to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins)Maintaining cell structure, fluidity, and integrity (cholesterol is an integral part of every cell membrane in the body)Forming the myelin sheath (surrounds and protects nerve cells). [1] [2] [3] Your liver produces cholesterol, or cholesterol is absorbed from your digestive tract and circulated in your bloodstream. […]…