Why do you get high cholesterol after Intermittent Fasting?

When you fast you mobilize your fat. There are triglycerides in your fat, along with some cholesterol. The triglycerides are primarily going to be used as energy. Cholesterol won’t be. Instead, it’s used to make hormones; especially sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It’s also used to make cortisol, you’re anti-inflammatory hormone.

Cholesterol is also needed for cell membranes. Every cell membrane in your body has cholesterol. Your body makes about 3,000 milligrams per day of it. When you eat more cholesterol your body will make less. When you eat less your body will make more.

Cholesterol helps repair damage in your body. It doesn’t just float through your body; it has to be put in a protein in order to be transported through the body. These proteins are what we call LDL, HDL, and the like.

By far the majority of the time when fasting you’ll see a drop in LDL and triglycerides. Even if you do see a temporary spike in triglycerides you’ll normally see a drop in LDL and a spike in HDL. LDL takes the cholesterol from the liver and transports it to where it’s needed in your body. HDL takes any excess back to your liver for recycling. If your cholesterol is a little high, realize you’re just in the transition phase and it will come down. Even when it’s high it’s not a problem. A really good test is to take your cholesterol count, subtract your HDL and LDL, and you’ll be left with what’s called remnant cholesterol.

What’s really behind high cholesterol and high triglycerides is carbohydrates; when you eat high carb foods especially desserts and sweets. When you bring down your carbs your body stops storing fat and starts using your stored energy as fuel.