Ditch the Margarine, Restore Your Metabolism
Margarine Belongs in the Trash – Not on Your Plate
Your doctor says: “Your cholesterol has risen. Switch the butter to margarine and canola oil, and your cholesterol will drop.” Sounds like a simple and good solution, right?
But what if you were told that the reference values have changed? The same cholesterol reading that was completely normal 30 years ago is now “too high”? And that the very margarine your doctor recommends could very likely cost you a heart attack or stroke?
Cholesterol Reference Values Have Changed
Looking at cholesterol reference values is a great example of how “normal” values in medicine change over time. In the 1970s: The upper limit for total cholesterol was about 6.2-6.5 mmol/l. Now (2026): 5.0 mmol/l (in Finland).
This happened because cholesterol was used as a marker for heart disease risk in research – and the food and pharmaceutical industries commercialized this. Here’s something important to consider: If the reference values changed, did YOUR health change? Or did only the definitions change?
How Margarine Lowers Cholesterol (And Why That’s a Problem)
Simply put:
The main ingredient in margarines is polyunsaturated vegetable and/or seed oil (such as rapeseed, soy, and corn oil). These oils are heavy on linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid.
When this oil enters your body, something interesting happens. Linoleic acid doesn’t directly lower cholesterol – instead, it damages the endothelium (the lining of your blood vessels).
When the endothelium is damaged, it sends a signal to your liver. Your liver receives the message: “Hey, something’s wrong here, we need more cholesterol for repair work.” As a result, more LDL cholesterol is removed from circulation to repair the damage, which shows up as lower cholesterol in your lab test.
It looks like the problem has been solved. But it hasn’t.
The Real Consequences
When you eat margarine, at the same time:
- You’re Destroying Your Blood Vessel Lining (Endothelium)
- Linoleic acid reduces the production of nitric oxide, which is like a “relaxation hormone” for blood vessels
- Without it, your blood vessels stiffen and become inflexible
- Your risk of blood clots rises dramatically.
2) You’re Increasing Inflammation
- Polyunsaturated fats are heated during margarine production, which causes fat oxidation → you’re eating inflammation-promoting food
- Your body tries to repair the damage caused by inflammation
- This chain of events can lead to atherosclerosis, which significantly increases your risk of heart attack.
3) Your Mitochondria Are Damaged
- Heating the oils also creates toxic compounds that damage your mitochondria – your body’s energy power plants
- Cellular energy production decreases
- This worsens the low energy state that in the first place was the culprit for elevated cholesterol (for many people).
Why Do So Many Doctors Still Recommend Margarine?
- They’ve been taught that elevated cholesterol = higher risk of heart diseases
- They don’t have time to investigate your overall situation and the real causes → They give a quick fix → Next patient
- They haven’t been taught about the role of hormonal balance or metabolism in this picture
- The food industry lobbying has been strong, and many doctors don’t question it.
This isn’t the fault of individual doctors. It’s a problem built into the system. BUT: You can make your own choices.
Is Your Cholesterol Really Too High?
At this point, I want you to stop and think about something: Cholesterol levels rise for many people around 40-50 yo. This is NORMAL and NATURAL. It’s not a disease. It’s a signal.
Your body raises cholesterol mainly for three reasons:
- Your thyroid function slows down → your liver processes cholesterol more slowly = higher readings
- Your hormone production declines → your body wants to secure hormone production
- Chronic stress → you need more repair materials. Stress is caused by, among other things, poor diet, too much psychological and/or physical stress, poor and insufficient sleep.
If your cholesterol elevation is accompanied by the following symptoms, THEN it’s worth taking action:
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Weight gain without changes in eating and activity
- Poor cold tolerance / low body temperature
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Depression or anxiety despite good life situation
- Difficulty losing weight
- Brain fog
- Poor motivation
- Recurring stomach issues like bloating and stomach pain
- Hormonal imbalance and signs of it, such as endometriosis
- Strong PMS symptoms
- Poor libido
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Acne
- Digestive problems
- Feeling unwell after a higher fat meal (even if the food is good quality).
These are typical symptoms related to slow thyroid function, slow metabolism, and liver/ gut issues. If you have some of these symptoms, your cholesterol really can be too high because your body is under stress.
But if you don’t have these symptoms and you feel well and your health is good, should you even worry about your cholesterol reading? At least read this post about cholesterol’s vital role first.
Lowering cholesterol with margarine or medication is fighting your own physiology and weakens your body’s energy production and ability to repair damage.
The Real Solution Is Supporting Your Metabolism and Hormone Function
Pro-metabolic coaching works the opposite way. Instead of rashly trying to lower cholesterol, we focus on supporting your body – boosting your weakened metabolism and supporting hormonal balance.
This essentially includes:
Supporting Your Thyroid
- Getting energy from nutrient-rich foods that support thyroid hormone production
- When your thyroid functions better, your liver processes cholesterol more efficiently
- LDL readings drop naturally
Restoring Mitochondrial Function
- By eating enough natural foods that support cellular energy production
- By reducing chronic inflammation holistically
Taking Care of Your Liver and Gut
- Poor gut health causes hormonal imbalances and burdens your liver
- Your liver is responsible for converting thyroid hormones into their active form
- Nutrients are only absorbed properly through a healthy gut.
Other Positive Effects:
- Improved energy levels (because your mitochondria actually work)
- Getting stronger and leaner (faster metabolism)
- Better mood
- Less pains, aches and swelling throughout your body
- Improved sleep quality
- Faster recovery.
If your cholesterol really has been too high, the level will eventually drop naturally because your body is actually doing better – not because you switched off the alarm.
Choose wisely. If you want to learn where your body’s symptoms come from and how to boost your metabolism, get in touch.
SOURCES
“Reproductive Steroid Hormones: Synthesis, Structure” – NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562873/
“The Sex Hormone Precursors DHEA and Pregnenolone” – PMC, 2025 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12429729/
“How Hormones and Aging Affect LDL Cholesterol in Women and Men” – IC Family Medicine, 2026 https://icfamilymedicine.com/how-hormones-and-aging-affect-ldl-cholesterol-in-women-and-men/
“Menopause, Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease” – USC Journal https://www.uscjournal.com/articles/menopause-cholesterol-and-cardiovascular-disease-0
“Modulation of Endothelium Function by Fatty Acids” – PMC (NIH), 2021 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8755678/
“Replacement of Dietary Saturated Fatty Acids by Trans Fatty Acids Lowers Serum HDL Cholesterol and Impairs Endothelial Function” – Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2001 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hq0701.092161
“The Controversial Role of Linoleic Acid in Cardiometabolic Health” – Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1728865/full
“Linoleic Acid: A Narrative Review of the Effects of Increased Intake” – Nutrients, 2024 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/14/3129
“Intake of ω-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Vegetable Oils and Risk of Lifestyle Diseases” – PMC (NIH), 2020 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7666899/
“The Energy Model of Insulin Resistance: A Unifying Theory” – Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1532961/full
“How Menopause Affects Cholesterol Levels” – Everyday Health, 2025 https://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/how-menopause-affects-cholesterol-levels/
“Cholesterol and Hormones: A Key to Healthy Aging” – Dr. Anat Sapan, MD, 2024 https://doctoranat.com/blog/cholesterol-and-hormones-a-key-to-healthy-aging/