Been eating to lower cholesterol - levels have gone up!

[Christmasisshit]

How can it be, that changing my diet to lower my cholesterol levels has caused cholesterol levels to increase? I've probably reduced butter, biscuits, cakes, fatty meat, hard cheeses etc.. consumption by at least 2/3rds.

In addition to what others have said about sugar, simple carbs and highly processed food l might add, your brain needs sufficient cholestrol for cognition. It is now being realised that slightly higher cholestrol in women may help ward off dementia.

Here:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/women_take_note__high_cholesterol_in_middle_age_not_a_risk_factor_for_alzheimers_and_other_dementias_study_suggests

There is a condition where cholesterol levels can’t be controlled by diet or exercise, although it helps to be as fit as possible. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/familial-hypercholesterolaemia

Cholesterol HDL 2.0 mmol/L (should be >1.0) - previously 1.9
Cholesterol LDL 4.0 mmol/L (should be < 3.0) - previously 3.8
Cholesterol P 6.0 mmol/L (should be < 5.0) - previously 5.5

This is from my lab results before Christmas and now.

Do you know your TG values, by chance? Your numbers slightly don't make sense to me because (I thought) triglyercides should be some portion of the total (it's not a simple addition, though). The ratio puts you in healthy zone. (total : HDL). This ratio is about 10x more important than the raw numbers, in terms of predictive risk. The TG ratio is even more important as a predictor.

Your HDL-C/LDL-C ratio is 0.5, which is also good, ratio of "0.4–0.6 was correlated with lower MI risk, all-cause mortality, haemorrhagic stroke and ischaemic stroke"

I'm looking into this now too OP. In the last 6 months my cholesterol has gone from 5.5 to 7.3, I'm peri and have been under a lot of pressure lately, and have done a lot more physical activity in the last month. When I look at the foods to eat to lower chlesterol I'm disappointed as that is basically my diet. I've been trying to lose a stone for about a year now so I'm keeping on trying to do that. I've been referred to cardiology for a different reason but this news has added my wish to try to lower my cholesterol naturally. Basically I'm finding anything I do in peri seems to be fruitless, I don't stop trying but it's like my body has just decided to hold firm on everything.

My HDL and LDL have also been rising since becoming menopausal, but my Triglycerides remain very low (even lower than the recommended 0.8).

I also wonder about the breakdown of LDL particles - apparently only the smaller fender ones are 'bad', but the NHS don't seem to remember offer a breakdown.