6. Overexercising

It’s undeniable that exercise is good for your cholesterol levels – studies have shown time and time again that exercise can boost good HDL cholesterol and lower bad LDL cholesterol. However, overtraining can have the opposite effect.

“People who exercise in excess of what their body can adapt to, or those who have too low nutritional energy intake (relative energy deficiency in sport) can slow down their bodies’ processes, which can raise cholesterol,” Dr Rebecca Robinson, a consultant in sports and exercise medicine for Marylebone Health, previously told Strong Women.

8 factors that could be spiking your cholesterol levels without you realising