Table of Contents
Are You Wondering Why Your Cholesterol Keeps Creeping Up?
It is okay to have higher cholesterol levels which I will explain below. But if your cholesterol has shot up to very high levels, it is important to get your thyroid function checked.
If you already have Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism and your cholesterol is rising or high, your thyroid may be at the root of the problem.
Cholesterol Is Essential For Key Functions
Cholesterol is required for:
- Vitamin D synthesis
- Arterial wall repair
- Sex hormone production
- Cell structure maintenance
- Bile acid production which depends on thyroid hormone
- Inflammation support
Dr Broda Barnes discovered that high cholesterol levels were actually a signal that the thyroid needed support. Other studies confirm that raised cholesterol levels are signs of a suboptimal thyroid (ref)
Lower cholesterol levels have also been linked to an increased risk of cancer (ref)
The U Shaped Curve Of Cholesterol
An analysis of 12 million adults shows a U shaped curve for cholesterol and risk.
The ideal level appears to be around 230 mg per dl which is considered high by conventional standards.
(ref)
We do not want low cholesterol, but we also do not want excessively elevated cholesterol. Hazard ratios increase at both extremes. Low cholesterol is surprisingly more hazardous in many analyses.
Heart studies show that high TSH contributes to poor lipid concentrations. This means when you support the thyroid, cholesterol levels often improve (ref)
T3, the active thyroid hormone, helps manage LDL receptor activity and supports the healthy use of serum cholesterol. The real question is not high or low cholesterol but whether the body is using cholesterol efficiently with adequate T3 and fat soluble vitamins.
Thyroid Research And Cholesterol
Ray Peat summarised early research on this connection:
“Several people in the 1930s and 40s showed that hypothyroidism caused atherosclerosis, and that thyroid supplementation corrected it. In people whose thyroid gland was removed, their serum cholesterol increased as their rate of metabolism slowed, and when they were given desiccated thyroid to normalize their metabolic rate, their serum cholesterol was immediately correspondingly normalized.”
Ray Peat Newsletter, September 2018
Will Limiting Eggs Reduce Cholesterol?
No. Dr Broda Barnes showed that low cholesterol diets often worsened heart disease (ref)
High cholesterol foods do not raise blood cholesterol. I frequently see vegetarians and vegans with high cholesterol for this reason (ref)
The literature also does not confirm this erroneous claim (ref)
Should You Reduce Saturated Fats?
Reducing it will lower serum levels but it may increase CD (ref).
Should You Take Statins?
I cannot tell you what to do medically, but consider the following.
Statins lower cholesterol but often at the cost of fatigue, weakness, reduced recovery, and lower testosterone. They compete with the CoQ10 pathway and deplete vitamin K2, increasing insulin resistance (ref, ref)
You can lower cholesterol synthesis but this does not guarantee optimal function or improved metabolic health.
Should You Replace Saturated Fat With PUFAs?
No. Eating more polyunsaturated fatty acids can lower serum cholesterol, but replacing saturated fat with PUFAs does not reduce coronary heart disease events and may increase heart attack risk. Saturated fats are not the real issue.
A better approach to raised cholesterol
A more effective solution is to support the body as a whole which includes:
- Mineral balance
- Nutrient cofactors
- Thyroid support
- Better metabolism
Increasing body temperature, lowering TSH, and increasing T3 naturally improve lipid levels. This can be done with nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle adjustments.
Liver health also affects cholesterol. Low thyroid reduces liver function which creates a chicken and egg situation until you test properly.
A full thyroid panel is an excellent starting point.
You can also test:
- Apo B
- LDL particle size
- Oxidised LDL
Stop artificially manipulating blood labs. When your body state improves, your cholesterol will adapt.
Download my free guide to assess your metabolic health using body temperature and pulse.
I am building a course for those who want to take a guided approach with community support.
I also offer 1:1 coaching for women wanting expert support to transform their thyroid, energy, and hormonal health.
Warmly,
Joel
