What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes cholesterol, but you also get it from the food you eat. In particular, it comes from food from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. A cholesterol test shows your overall total cholesterol, including HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein).