February is known as Heart Health Month, yet most conversations stop at cholesterol numbers. While cholesterol can be a useful marker, it is not the root cause of heart disease. Especially for women over 35, heart health is deeply connected to inflammation, stress hormones, blood sugar balance, and liver function.
Functional nutrition looks beyond surface level labs and asks a more important question. Why is the body under stress in the first place?
Why Cholesterol Is Not the Villain
Cholesterol is essential for hormone production, brain health, and cellular repair. When inflammation is present, the body often increases cholesterol production as a protective response. Lowering cholesterol without addressing inflammation is like silencing a fire alarm while the fire is still burning.
The real issue is not cholesterol itself. It is what is driving the inflammation behind it.
The Role of Stress and Cortisol in Heart Health
Chronic stress is one of the most overlooked contributors to heart disease in women. Elevated cortisol raises blood sugar, increases abdominal fat, disrupts sleep, and fuels inflammation. Over time this places significant strain on the cardiovascular system.
Many women in perimenopause experience worsening heart health symptoms not because they are aging, but because stress hormones are no longer buffered by stable estrogen levels.
Inflammation Is the Real Risk Factor
Inflammation damages blood vessels, stiffens arteries, and increases the risk of plaque formation. Common drivers of inflammation include
Blood sugar instability
Poor gut health
Chronic stress
Nutrient deficiencies
Toxin overload
Functional nutrition focuses on identifying and removing these triggers while supporting the body’s natural repair systems.
What Functional Nutrition Tests That Conventional Care Often Misses
A functional approach to heart health may evaluate
Inflammatory markers beyond basic cholesterol panels
Insulin and blood sugar trends
Liver detoxification capacity
Micronutrient status
Stress hormone patterns
This allows for personalized strategies instead of one size fits all recommendations.
Supporting Heart Health at the Root Cause Level
True heart health support includes
Reducing inflammation through whole foods
Balancing blood sugar to protect blood vessels
Supporting liver detoxification pathways
Regulating the nervous system to lower cortisol
Replenishing nutrients depleted by chronic stress
This is not about restriction or fear. It is about giving the body what it needs to heal.
Final Thoughts
Heart health is not just about avoiding disease. It is about supporting the systems that keep your body resilient, energized, and regulated. When we stop blaming cholesterol and start addressing inflammation, stress, and metabolic health, everything changes.
If you are ready to take a root cause approach to heart health, functional nutrition offers a clearer and more empowering path forward.