Lipids are fatty substances that are found in our blood and body tissues. Lipids are important, because they’re stored in our bodies for future use as sources of energy. Your body definitely needs lipids to survive, however, too many lipids can be bad for your health.

Some lipids, like cholesterol, present a challenge for the digestive system because they can’t be absorbed in their natural state. In order to travel through the bloodstream, lipids must be “packaged” for transport. This occurs when lipids combine with special proteins to form complexes called lipoproteins.