How I Lowered My Cholesterol Naturally in Midlife

My personal story, as published in Top Santé's Have Your Say section.

Sometimes, it takes something happening in our own lives to remind us to pay a little more attention to our health.

For me, that moment came in summer 2024, when I was retraining as a health and wellness coach and decided to review my blood test results. I discovered that my cholesterol was raised.

It made me stop and think. Here I was, learning about health and wellbeing and supporting others on their journeys, yet I also needed to pay attention to my own health.

My journey with cholesterol

In 2020, I had benign breast calcification. When I returned for a routine mammogram at the age of 57, the same age my mother was when she passed away, I felt reflective and deeply grateful.

Around that time, I was also learning more about how our lifestyle can affect our health. After discovering my raised cholesterol, I turned to guidance from the British Heart Foundation and began making some simple changes to my diet.

I also became more consistent with exercise.

Over time, my total cholesterol level came down to 4.5 mmol/l, a level I hadn't seen since 2016. I was pleased with the progress I had made, especially knowing that the changes had become part of my everyday life.

I shared my experience in a letter to Top Santé, where I reflected on how food, movement and lifestyle changes had helped me take a more active role in my health.

Of course, everyone's circumstances are different. What worked for me may not be the right approach for someone else, but the experience taught me something important. It's worth paying attention to our health and finding out what we can do to support it.

Small changes can make a difference

When we think about improving our health, it's easy to feel that we have to change everything at once. We might imagine strict diets, difficult routines or giving up the foods we enjoy.

That doesn't have to be the case.

For me, it started with looking at my eating habits and becoming more consistent with movement. They were simple changes, but they made me think differently about how I wanted to look after myself.

Learning about cholesterol also helped me understand that our health is influenced by different things, including our family history, age, lifestyle and other individual factors.

Healthy habits can help, but they are not the whole picture. If you have raised cholesterol, it's important to speak with your healthcare professional about your results and what they mean for you.

Some people can improve their cholesterol through lifestyle changes, while others may also need medication. There is no single approach that works for everyone.

Learning to embrace midlife

I genuinely love being in midlife and celebrating life after menopause.

I know that this stage of life can bring changes, and it can also give us a reason to look at our habits and think about what we want for ourselves moving forward.

For me, nourishing food and regular movement have become important parts of that journey. I have learnt that looking after myself doesn't need to be about restriction or trying to do everything perfectly.

It's about finding a way of living that feels good, works with my everyday life and allows me to keep enjoying the things that matter to me.

Food is also part of our culture, our memories and the way we connect with other people. I don't believe looking after our health means losing those connections. Sometimes, it's about learning to make different choices while still enjoying the foods and traditions we love.

These are the kinds of things I continue to explore in my own life and in my work as a health and wellness coach.

You can start lower cholesterol naturally where you are

If you're in midlife and beginning to think more about your health, you don't need to have all the answers straight away.

You can start by paying attention to your everyday habits, finding ways to move more regularly or arranging a conversation with your GP about your health concerns.

You don't have to make every change at once. What matters is understanding your own needs and finding an approach that is realistic for you.

My experience with cholesterol reminded me that we can keep learning about ourselves and our health at every stage of life.

It's one of the reasons I feel so strongly about helping other women feel more confident about their own wellbeing.

Supporting women through midlife

As a health and wellness coach, I work with women who want to feel better supported as they navigate midlife and the changes that can come with it.

My approach is about looking at the whole picture, including food, movement, everyday habits and the things that make each person's life unique.

There is no need to compare your journey with someone else's. We all have different experiences, responsibilities and starting points.

If you're ready to give more attention to your wellbeing and would like some support along the way, you can explore my [Health & Wellness coaching programme] or [get in touch with me] to arrange a complimentary coaching conversation on how you can lower cholesterol naturally.

I'd love to hear from you.

A little more information

If you'd like to learn more about cholesterol and heart health, the British Heart Foundation has helpful information about high cholesterol.

This article shares my personal experience and is for general information only. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice.