Why Cholesterol Goes Up in Your 40s: Root Causes, Hormones, and What to Know
If your cholesterol levels have changed recently, you’re not alone. And it’s not just because you’re getting older or eating more eggs.
Cholesterol is one of the most misunderstood markers in health care. It often gets treated as a simple “good” versus “bad” number. But in reality, cholesterol levels are dynamic. They respond to what your body is experiencing, not just what you’re eating.
Hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause, ongoing stress, thyroid changes, and even gut health can all affect your cholesterol levels. In many cases, these factors have a bigger impact than diet alone.
That’s why it’s important to look at cholesterol in context. A sudden rise or a “normal” number doesn’t always mean what we think it does. If we don’t ask why those numbers are changing, we might miss what your body is actually trying to tell you.
This post is all about understanding those deeper drivers so you can move from confusion to clarity when it comes to your heart and your overall health.
If you’ve ever had your cholesterol checked, you’ve probably seen numbers like LDL, HDL, and triglycerides on your lab report.
And maybe your doctor gave you one of these two responses:
👉 “Your cholesterol is high—you need to lower it.”
👉 “Everything looks fine. See you next year!”
But what do those numbers actually mean? And do they tell the whole story?
More Than Just “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol
Yes, cholesterol plays a role in heart health, but it’s not as simple as we’ve been led to believe.
In fact, cholesterol is essential—it helps build hormones, supports brain function, and even plays a role in your immune system.
The real question isn’t just how much cholesterol you have but why it’s at those levels.
Surprising Factors That Affect Cholesterol
Perimenopause & Menopause
Did you know that cholesterol levels can increase by 10–15% during this transition?
This is a normal physiological shift as estrogen levels drop, which affects how the liver processes cholesterol.
Stress
When you’re stressed, your body produces more cholesterol to help make cortisol (your stress hormone).
Chronic stress can drive up your numbers, even if your diet is “perfect.”
Thyroid Function
Low thyroid hormones can slow down cholesterol clearance from your blood, leading to higher levels.
Many people with “high cholesterol” actually have an undiagnosed thyroid issue.
Gut Health
Your liver and gut work together to regulate cholesterol.
If your digestion is off (bloating, constipation, gut inflammation), it can impact how your body processes cholesterol.
They give us insight into what’s happening beneath the surface so we can assess how well your body is functioning and what areas might need support.
Labs are simply tools to help us find the root cause of any imbalance and adjust your protocol accordingly.
So, if your cholesterol is high, does that mean you need a major diet overhaul? Not necessarily.
And if your numbers are “normal,” does that mean there’s nothing to look at? Not always.
Cholesterol is important, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger picture. When we look at your hormones, stress levels, thyroid function, gut health, and lifestyle, it becomes clear how many factors can influence those numbers.
This is why I look beyond the lab results alone.
When we take a root-cause, whole-body approach, we start to see patterns. We get clarity about what’s really driving the shift in your labs. And most importantly, we create a path forward that feels doable and supportive, not overwhelming.
Your body is always giving you information. The more we understand what it’s saying, the better equipped we are to support it with care, compassion, and confidence.