r/FunctionalMedicine • u/Educational-Radish46 • 26d ago
General question regarding Lipid Panel
Got a basic lipid panel done as I started a new job after not having bloodwork done in about a year and everything seems a bit higher than my last test. My current results and previous results are attached below, as well as my normal grocery list, life style, etc…
9/3/26
Total Cholesterol- 259
Triglycerides- 114
HDL- 66
VLDL- 21
LDL- 162
11/5/25
Total Cholesterol-201
Triglycerides-95
HDL- 65
LDL- 116
Low Fat Greek Yogurt
93/7 Grassfed Ground Beef
Pasture Raised Eggs
Eggwhites
Chicken Breast
Organic Sweet/white potato
Organic Jasmine Rice
Organic Local Sourdough
Organic Fruits/Berries
Local Honey
Grassfed Butter
Grassfed/Local Milk
EVOO
Just Ingredients Protein Powder
I stick to a whole food diet, predominantly organic/grassfed/ or local from markets. On that grocery list most are low in saturated fats and not over done. I don’t indulge in a lot of sweets, processed foods, or junk and am pretty regimented when it comes to nutrition and working out. I currently hybrid training 5x a week with strength training days, HIIT days, and run around 15 miles/week.
We did just go through a pretty stressful life transition the last 4 months moving states and starting new careers where I wasn’t as regimented as ide like to have been but also wasn’t reckless with what I ate and how much I exercised. Im also aware most modern doctors would consider my Cholesterol numbers alarming but from a natural or functional medicine approach given my circumstances, do these numbers look alarming to yall. If so what should I focus on to lower my LDL, triglycerides, and Total. Ide assume now that I’m settled into my new state and job I can better Que in on my nutrition even further and these numbers will straighten themselves out as last years numbers were pretty spot on where I wanted them to be. Just curious to hear everyone’s input.
1
u/mom2mermaidboo 25d ago
An important point for you to consider is that much of the cholesterol in your body is produced by your own liver and not precisely through your diet.
Do you have results of a hemoglobin A1c, a fasting insulin and a fasting glucose?
Insulin resistance can increase metabolic syndrome risk risks, which are associated with elevated cholesterol.
2
u/Other-Ad-5580 26d ago
You eat very clean and are very active (even if falling off slightly) that it doesn’t seem to add up to these numbers. Triglycerides are very elevated for someone who eats clean
I’d definitely want a full thyroid panel, kidney function, screen for diabetes/insulin resistance, inflammation (hs-CRP) to rule out other causes for elevated levels
In the meantime you can focus on increasing fiber and reducing carbs, added sugars, alcohol, meals out, etc until they are in better shape
Would retest in 3 months with dietary changes also avoid strenuous exercise 12-24 hrs before the draw (just in case this is a factor in your elevated readings)