Is longevity simply the goal of living longer at any cost? For me, it’s something different. Longevity is about being in the best possible health for you, at every stage of life. Many of us spend years imagining what our later years will look like—how we’ll avoid past mistakes and live vibrantly. But to achieve that vision, we must give thought to our health—not in a fanatical or extreme way (though that may work for some), but in a way that supports pleasure and sustainability.

A lot of people see healthy choices as barriers to enjoying life, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I recently spoke with a client whose blood pressure was consistently high and cholesterol levels were not where she wanted them. She committed to the protocols I gave her, and while she still enjoys life’s pleasures, her cravings for less healthy options have naturally declined. Today, her blood pressure is regularly in a healthy range, her triglycerides are lower, and she’s avoided medication—allowing her to truly focus on enjoying her later years with more energy and vitality.

We reflected on how her reduced desire for unhealthy foods might be connected to the microbiome—a fascinating and rapidly evolving area of research. The bacteria in our gut communicate with our brain via the gut-brain axis. For example, sugar-loving bacteria can influence our preference for sugar. When these bacteria dominate, studies suggest they may increase sugar cravings. But when you stop feeding them (by reducing dietary sugar), the signalling quiets down, and healthier food choices become more intuitive.

So how would I support a client looking to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol?

One option is a Metabolics Genetic Report, which examines over 40 genes and 50 SNPs across six pathways: appetite regulation, nutrient sensing, sugar and fat metabolism, cholesterol and bile, mitochondrial health, and inflammation. With this data, we can tailor foods, supplements, and lifestyle strategies to your unique genetic makeup. For instance, if your sugar metabolism pathway shows a tendency to store excess sugars as triglycerides, we could support this with tools like green tea, magnesium, and intermittent fasting.

Alternatively, we might opt for a cardiometabolic profile, which provides a detailed view of your cholesterol, inflammation levels, and metabolic risk markers. With this, we can design a plan using nutrition, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplements to support these pathways efficiently.

The Complex Role of Cholesterol

When it comes to cholesterol, it's not always about reducing saturated fat. Cholesterol is complex and essential. It plays a vital role in the liver—as a precursor to bile acids (which help digest and eliminate fats), in hormone production, and in maintaining a healthy cholesterol balance. In fact, about 80% of the cholesterol your body needs is produced by the liver and intestines; only 20% comes from food.

Excess cholesterol can be transported back to the liver for excretion or conversion into bile acids. But cholesterol is just one part of the puzzle.

The Liver: Hormones and Beyond

The liver is also deeply involved in hormone regulation. It helps produce and metabolise hormones and ensures that they are detoxified and eliminated properly. This is critical—hormones left circulating too long can lead to imbalances.

The liver also plays a role in:

·       Converting thyroid hormone T4 into its active form, T3

·       Managing stress hormone metabolism, as stress impacts liver function

These are all areas to consider around cholesterol because if you are stressed or your thyroid function is low your liver is busy with a heavy load and by supporting stress levels and the conversion of our thyroid hormones with nutrition and lifestyle we are also supporting our liver and consequently production of bile acids where digestion and elimination of fats are supported for healthy cholesterol balance.

If you want to understand more and how I can support you book in for a free chat