Functional medicine support for high cholesterol
We take a personalised, root-cause approach to high cholesterol. Care focuses on identifying the dietary, metabolic, and genetic contributors to elevated cholesterol levels, using targeted investigation and individualised treatment to support healthier cholesterol levels and lower your long-term risk of heart disease.
Is our high cholesterol care right for you?
If your cholesterol has stayed high or improved slowly despite dietary changes or medication, a more comprehensive, individualised approach can help make sense of what’s contributing to your results. Our approach may suit you if:
You’ve been told your cholesterol is high but aren’t sure what it means for your health
You want to understand how cholesterol fits into your broader metabolic and cardiovascular picture
You’re looking for a more structured, personalised way to support your health
You want to explore what may be contributing to elevated cholesterol beyond diet alone
Why lowering your cholesterol doesn’t always lower your risk
Reducing your total cholesterol is only one part of the puzzle, so it may not always reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Just as important as the total cholesterol load is the size and type of the particles that are transporting the cholesterol. Small dense particles can increase your risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation, irrespective of the total cholesterol level.
Oxidative stress, poor glucose control, and other inflammatory conditions can all have an effect on the LDL particle size, and these important factors can’t be seen in a standard cholesterol profile.
Our approach to high cholesterol
Care begins with understanding the patterns unique to you: how your cholesterol has changed, what your LDL particle size and inflammation markers show, and what else is going on for you, like your blood sugar, weight, sleep, or stress levels.
Depending on your presentation, care may include:
Dietary approaches
Dietary approaches influence how much cholesterol your body absorbs, produces, and clears, and are typically the first line of care.
- Increasing soluble fibre from oats, legumes, and flaxseed to bind cholesterol in the gut and reduce reabsorption
- Including plant sterols from nuts, seeds, and fortified foods to help lower LDL
- Reducing refined carbohydrates, sugar, and trans fats to lower triglycerides and support HDL
Blood sugar and insulin regulation
Where insulin resistance is present, blood sugar regulation is an important strategy to focus on. Reducing refined carbohydrates and added sugars, along with improving meal timing, lowers triglycerides and raises HDL, while more stable insulin levels also make a difference to the type of LDL particles in your blood, helping move LDL particles toward the larger, less harmful type associated with lower cardiovascular risk.
Thyroid function
Thyroid hormone affects how efficiently the liver clears LDL from the bloodstream by regulating the LDL receptors that pull cholesterol out of circulation. Where subclinical hypothyroidism is identified, supporting thyroid function through nutrition, stress reduction, or targeted supplementation can restore this receptor activity and improve LDL clearance.
Reducing inflammation
Inflammation in the blood vessels adds to your heart disease risk too, so it’s part of what we look at alongside your cholesterol. An anti-inflammatory dietary approach rich in omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish, olive oil, and colourful vegetables, alongside targeted nutrients such as fish oil and curcumin, helps bring this inflammation down.
Lifestyle habits
Several everyday habits influence lipid metabolism alongside diet, and are addressed as part of a complete plan:
- Incorporating regular aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling, or swimming to raise HDL and improve insulin sensitivity
- Addressing poor sleep where it is raising cortisol and worsening insulin resistance
- Managing stress where elevated cortisol is increasing cholesterol synthesis and affecting sleep and dietary patterns
- Targeted supplementation
- Certain nutrients have well-studied effects on lipid metabolism and may be considered as part of a broader plan:
- Berberine to help lower LDL and triglycerides by activating AMPK and increasing LDL receptor expression in the liver
- Red yeast rice, which contains naturally occurring monacolin K, a compound structurally similar to statin medications, to lower LDL
- Coenzyme Q10 to help offset the CoQ10 depletion that can occur with statin use and support energy production in heart and blood vessel tissue
- Plant sterols to compete with cholesterol for absorption in the gut, lowering LDL
Functional medicine works alongside conventional care. For people with familial hypercholesterolaemia or high established cardiovascular risk, statin therapy may be clinically appropriate and recommended. A functional medicine practitioner considers where both approaches can work together to reduce overall risk most effectively.
How we investigate high cholesterol more deeply
Testing is guided by your history, current results, and overall cardiovascular risk. It may include:
- Nutrigenomic DNA profile
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Markers of inflammation
- Comprehensive cardiovascular profile
- Comprehensive thyroid panel
We look beyond the number on your cholesterol test
Cholesterol is one part of a bigger cardiovascular picture. We help you make sense of your results and what they mean for your long-term health.
Your heart and diabetes care team
GETTING STARTED
Choose how you'd like to begin
3-hour initial apt
3-hour initial appointment
- Comprehensive deep dive into your health picture
- Ideal for complex or long-standing concerns
- Root-cause mapping and strategy session
- Get your personalised health mindmap
Start with a deep dive
1-hour initial apt
1-hour initial appointment
- Review your health history and current concerns
- Receive testing and treatment recommendations
- Leave with an initial plan to get started
A focussed starting point
WHAT PATIENTS SAY
Why Melbourne Functional Medicine is trusted for High cholesterol
Patient experiences
Our award winning approach is personalised, collaborative and focused on your health.
See what past patients say about their experience below.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Do I need a diagnosis of high cholesterol to work with you?
No, some people come to us after a blood test has shown elevated cholesterol, while others are looking to understand their cardiovascular risk more broadly. If testing is needed, we can guide you on what’s appropriate based on your situation.
Can this approach work alongside cholesterol medication?
Yes, functional medicine is designed to complement conventional care. Many people continue medications such as statins while we focus on supporting the broader influences on cholesterol levels. Any medication decisions should always be made with your prescribing doctor.
What if I’ve already changed my diet?
That’s very common. In some cases, cholesterol levels don’t respond to dietary changes as expected because other factors are involved, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, or how your body processes fats. We look at the bigger picture to help refine your approach.
Does high cholesterol always mean high cardiovascular risk?
Not necessarily. Cholesterol is one part of a broader cardiovascular picture. Things like inflammation, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure, and overall metabolic health also influence risk. Understanding how these fit together can provide a clearer perspective.
Where can I learn more about high cholesterol?
For a deeper look at how high cholesterol affects your cardiovascular and metabolic health, and why levels can be slow to improve, read our detailed guide to high cholesterol.
Ready for a clearer picture of your cholesterol?
If you’re looking for a root-cause, comprehensive approach to understanding and supporting your cholesterol levels, Melbourne Functional Medicine can help.
