The vastly popular low-fat no-fat diet which directly leads to the over-consumption of simple carbohydrates and sugar was once a popular trend and we now know it is one of the best ways to throw off hormonal balance. Cholesterol is often a feared term, and in our opinion, unnecessarily so.

We rarely hear about why it is so crucial to our wellness and how it can be instrumental to hormonal balance. Many of the most important hormones are actually made from cholesterol.

It is the mother of all fat molecules in the body: a cornerstone of normal cell function and mood regulation. It is needed to maintain neurotransmitter and brain function, build brain and nerve tissue, and nourish the immune system. It provides the crucial insulation around nerves that transmit electrical impulses and helps to digest fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K.

Many have been led to believe that a low-fat diet will help in weight loss. Unfortunately, this isn't exactly the truth. In fact the opposite may be true, especially for women.

We tell clients often, the human body does not make a mistake. It is hard-wired by evolution to crave cholesterol and fat. The body equates fat with safety and security.

It is evolutionary. When the body is deprived of fat, the brain becomes preoccupied with how to obtain it. This is why low-fat diets fail. The body is so intelligent that when not enough cholesterol is consumed, the liver will automatically start to make it in order to guarantee a baseline level of it is running through the system.

The rest has to be consumed through food. By depriving the body of cholesterol and eating carbs and sugar instead , metabolism goes into famine mode causing the liver to overproduce cholesterol in order to make up the difference. Sadly, environmental toxins are having a more and more devastating impact on our overall health.

We see more and more adverse affects due to the exposure to pesticides, volatile and damaging chemicals in cosmetics, and estrogen-like compounds in plastics can also contribute to hormone imbalance. Stress of course also has a significant impact in hormones and balance.

Increased stress equals increased levels of cortisol, our fight or flight hormone. Because this hormone is all about survival it can and will trump the production of other hormones in the body. For example, sex drive greatly diminishes under stress because the body is focused on making cortisol so it produces less testosterone.

Testosterone in both men and women controls sex drive. The same goes for other key hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Balancing hormones does not have to be an elusive scientific procedure filled with bio-identical hormones.

We always start with the neurotransmitters in the brain and the stress hormones and allow the sex hormones that base to pull from so that they can create their own balance, which is the most natural and effective, lasting approach. As far as food is concerned, stick to the basics and keep it simple.

First and foremost consider a whole foods diet. We embrace the overcrowding theory, which is: as you add more healthful foods in, the refined and processed foods fall by the wayside on their own without deprivation, denial or willpower. During pregnancy, cholesterol is essential for fetal development.

Hormonal changes, including increased levels of progesterone, can affect cholesterol levels. Perimenopause is a transitional period marked by hormonal changes. This time can influence your cholesterol profile. It's essential to consider these fluctuations when analyzing your cholesterol levels.

Monitoring both cholesterol and hormones provides a more holistic view of your health. Menopause is another phase with hormonal changes. During this period, your cholesterol profile can be affected again. High levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower levels of "good" HDL cholesterol can be more challenging to manage.

With deeper insights into your cholesterol values, you also gain a better understanding of your cardiovascular health. Based on these insights, you can make lifestyle changes, such as incorporating more physical activity and exercise into your daily routine or reviewing your diet.

Cholesterol and other essential hormones, minerals, and vitamins are analyzed in our Women's Health Check package. Your test results are digitally sent to you as the analysis of all biomarkers is completed and reviewed by our physician.

Stay healthy without breaking the bank. Medical report on selected health checks. How women's cholesterol levels are influenced by hormonal changes se - Health checks for increased well-being Discover our health checks. Difference in cholesterol levels throughout a woman's life phases.

Difference in cholesterol levels throughout a woman's life phases Menstrual cycle and reproductive health Your menstrual cycle is a period where hormonal changes are noticeable. Pregnancy Are you planning to have a baby?

Perimenopause Perimenopause is a transitional period marked by hormonal changes. Menopause Menopause is another phase with hormonal changes. cholesterol test HDL HDL cholesterol 1 marker.

Measures your HDL cholesterol. The "good" cholesterol HDL. Identifies risk of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol total Cholesterol test 1 marker. Measures your total cholesterol. Get insight into your cholesterol value.

Discover the risk of cardiovascular disease. Indication of dietary or lifestyle changes. Cholesterol test LDL LDL-Cholesterol 1 marker. Measures LDL cholesterol The "bad" cholesterol LDL Discover the risk of cardiovascular disease Indicate dietary or lifestyle changes.

Most blood tests are only looking for total cortisol levels bound to binding proteins, and not free cortisol. You see the overall amount but not how much is active.

Free cortisol can impact cholesterol because when there are large amounts of it, the liver starts producing more glucose, which can result in hyperinsulinemia or hyper insulin response.

Now the body will have trouble metabolizing carbohydrates. Triglycerides are made primarily from carbohydrates. So high free cortisol levels can cause a chain reaction that leads to an accumulation of triglycerides and blood glucose because the cortisol is preventing your body from managing insulin properly.

If elevated levels of cholesterol are present, is it because of excess saturated fat intake, or is cholesterol recirculating and getting absorbed? Is the liver producing more cholesterol than it normally should? And are certain hormones at play as well? To figure out which approach is best for reducing total cholesterol, you need to first identify which of these paths is abhorrent.

Accessed 2 May. Studies show participants taking milligrams of Dyglofit® twice a day, before lunch and dinner, without any other By Roger Kendall, PhD Smoking, weight gain, stress, and cholesterol are the usual suspects when it comes to factors associated with compromised cardiovascular health.

But recent studies show Ralph Esposito Leptin is such an important hormone because it communicates with the entire metabolic system. It interacts will all hormones, including cortisol, insulin, thyroid, and even sex This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Have a Question? Contact Us COVID Message Privacy Policy Account Login. My Account Create Account Contact Us. Truth in Labeling Our Company Meet The Davinci Team frequently asked questions Prop Blog Learning Center Protocol Guides.

Davinci for Doctors. The Role Hormones Play in High Cholesterol May 15, PM. Written By: Dr. Ralph Esposito When most people think of cholesterol, they think of medical issues such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Pregnenolone For the steroidogenesis process, the first interaction cholesterol has is with the mitochondrial enzyme Pscc cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme.

Free Cortisol and Insulin Most blood tests are only looking for total cortisol levels bound to binding proteins, and not free cortisol.

Nutritional Supplements , cortisol , General Health Topics , hormones , Hormone Support. Read More. General Health Topics How Does Inflammation Impact Heart Health? CoQ10 levels diminish as we age and further depletion can result in muscle and joint soreness or pain.

Statins have also been shown to mess up blood sugar levels they can particularly raise certain lab values associated with diabetes and even place some individuals at even more risk for a cardiovascular event!

Side note: If you're taking a CoQ10 supplement with a statin, it does NOT reduce your risk for heart disease. You're simply just replacing a nutrient and we know our body is so much more complex than working with a 'quick fix.

I suggest you be wary when interpreting the usual symptoms associated with high cholesterol levels. There are so many ways to figure things out. Understanding everything from your diet and lifestyle to your bloodwork is a great place to start in coming up with a comprehensive plan towards better hormonal and overall health.

If you need help starting out, why not take advantage of a FREE minute chat with any of our naturopaths at Happy Healthy You? Just click on the button below to book your appointment. Older post Newer post. During your menopausal transition, it probably feels like everything is changing.

Menopause symptoms can induce the downregulation of collagen sparking Perhaps you have been trying to conceive for quite some time, or you are just starting to think about A woman will experience approximately menstrual cycles in her lifetime—that means hours, days, weeks, and months of changing This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.

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