Most people only think about their gallbladder when something goes wrong. But bile, the fluid it stores and releases, plays a significant role in fat digestion, cholesterol clearance, and how oestrogen is processed and removed from the body. When bile flow slows, you feel it in places that have nothing to do with what you ate. Nutritional therapist Ciara Ryan explains what's happening and what you can do about it.

You can eat well, move often, and still see your cholesterol climb in your forties. For many women, it’s not just about food — it’s about falling oestrogen. As hormone levels shift in perimenopause, cholesterol balance can change too, often showing up on blood tests long before other symptoms appear. Understanding why this happens — and what you can do about it — is the key to protecting both your heart and your hormones through midlife and beyond.