Q I had my physical last fall, and it included some blood tests. One of them showed that my cholesterol levels rose a bit since last year. My doctor says that if they keep going up, I should consider using meds to control them. What is cholesterol? Can you lower it naturally?

A Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance that is carried by the blood and used by tissues throughout the body. Although most often discussed as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease, cholesterol actually plays many essential roles in health and well-being. Your body needs cholesterol to produce hormones, build and maintain cell walls and membranes, manufacture vitamin D and aid in digestion. The highest concentration of cholesterol in the body is in the brain, where it is essential to the creation and maintenance of neurons and other tissues.