Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
High cholesterol is extremely common in Menopause because of the drop in estrogen.
Estrogen is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect our arteries and tissues, and when we lose it, we become more susceptible to damage.
That is where cholesterol comes into play - cholesterol helps to ‘clean up’ that damage, which is why we see it rise without the protection of estrogen.
What else can you do to help support cholesterol, besides taking a statin (hint: not recommended in most cases, see below for why):
First of all, we want to avoid highly processed foods, foods high in sugar, and refined carbs. These actually drive MORE inflammation within the arteries and system, and healthy fats are actually much better for us! (Fat isn’t the enemy of cholesterol!)
These are my favorite foods that are richest in antioxidants to consume:
🥕Best RAW Veggies to include:
Carrots, celery, cucumbers, spinach, bok choy, bell peppers, romaine, cilantro, parsley, radishes, snap peas, and beets.
🥦 Best Veggies to COOK due to their raw outer cellulose layer (BONUS: steam or marinate with lemon/apple cider vinegar):
Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, onions, cabbage, watercress, Brussel sprouts, and asparagus.
🥝 Fruits/Seasonings:
Kiwi, blueberries, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, pomegranate.
This includes fermented foods, aged cheeses, processed meats, shellfish, and alcohol. Avoiding these foods can greatly help to reduce symptoms of histamine intolerance.
Bile acids are the primary pathway for cholesterol metabolism and breakdown.
They help regulate HDL/LDL, and this process is what helps cholesterol break down into smaller particles to then create vitamin D, cell membranes, etc.
This is why statins can become a problem - they actually block the production of cholesterol, which then blocks bile, Vitamin D creation, and making cell membranes or hormones.