cholesterol in the body is a waxy like substance that travels through blood and provides many important functions like making hormones. no one needs to ingest cholesterol because the body makes it especially the liver. the process of making "bad cholesterol" (ldl) increases when someone eats too much saturated and trans fat and not enough fruits vegetables and soluble fiber. the good cholesterol (hdl) is beneficial for health because it helps clear the bad cholesterol out and is related to exercise and the consumption of healthy fats (nuts vegetable oils etc) intake. there is also a genetic link to cholesterol levels meaning people with a family history of high cholesterol may be at higher risk. cholesterol is also found in foods of animal origin such as meat poultry and full fat dairy but isn't linked to high cholesterol as much as saturated and trans fats are. that being said the american heart association says too much cholesterol in the diet can lead to increased plaque in the arteries. for more info see the basics of cholesterol
how does naturaly produce cholesterol of the body differ from cholesterol in dietary foods?