Triglycerides and cholesterol share several characteristics. Both are classified as lipids because neither can dissolve in or mix with water. Both triglycerides and cholesterol must bind to specialized proteins, known as lipoproteins, to travel through the blood. High blood triglyceride and high blood cholesterol levels both increase your risk for heart disease. Even with these similarities, these two lipids differ. Your body produces about 75 percent of your total cholesterol in the liver and uses it to add structure to cell membranes, stimulate hormone production and create bile acids. Your body converts unused calories from food into triglycerides, which then get stored in the fat cells for use as an energy source at a later time.