Episode 110: [The LOdown] The Hormonal Link to High Cholesterol

2025-06-18

[The LOdown] The Hormonal Link to High Cholesterol What if your high cholesterol isn’t just about your diet—but about your hormones? In this episode, we explore the surprising hormonal connections behind elevated cholesterol levels. You’ll learn why your liver—not your lunch—is responsible for the majority of your cholesterol, and how thyroid, estrogen, cortisol, insulin, and progesterone all influence cholesterol production, clearance, and conversion in profound ways. In this episode we cover: Why low thyro...

[The LOdown] The Hormonal Link to High Cholesterol

What if your high cholesterol isn’t just about your diet—but about your hormones?

In this episode, we explore the surprising hormonal connections behind elevated cholesterol levels. You’ll learn why your liver—not your lunch—is responsible for the majority of your cholesterol, and how thyroid, estrogen, cortisol, insulin, and progesterone all influence cholesterol production, clearance, and conversion in profound ways.

In this episode we cover:

Why low thyroid function leads to higher cholesterol (and the history of thyroid meds as cholesterol-lowering therapy)
How sluggish liver detox and reduced bile flow impair cholesterol clearance and ultimately, cholesterol levels
The role of estrogen in boosting HDL and lowering lipoprotein(a)
How cortisol and insulin resistance fuel harmful LDL subtypes and triglycerides
Why progesterone (and mitochondrial health) matter for cholesterol utilization and bile flow

This is a must-listen if you have ever been told to "just eat less eggs"—but your labs still tell a different story. Tune in to understand the deeper hormonal roots of lipid imbalances and what it means for long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health.

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