Does Drinking Water Lower Cholesterol? Doctors Explain

Technically speaking, drinking water does not lower cholesterol, says Tracey Paeschke, M.D., a preventive cardiologist at Heart Health Prevention and Wellness in Monument, CO. Per the Mayo Clinic, high cholesterol can be caused by chronic liver or kidney disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, lupus, sleep apnea, obesity, HIV/AIDS, or a family history of high cholesterol. Likewise, many medications can raise your cholesterol levels, including those that treat acne, high blood pressure, and others. None of these causes are directly affected by how much water you drink.

“Hydration likely supports cholesterol management, but it isn’t a cure,” says Sapna Peruvemba, M.S., R.D.N., a dietitian and Ph.D. student in Nutritional Science at Loma Linda University. “Evidence suggests that inadequate water intake may increase cardiometabolic risk, and multiple studies show that drinking water can modestly lower blood lipids. But hydration should be viewed as a complementary strategy alongside established therapies like healthy diet, medications, and exercise, not a standalone treatment.”

While drinking water does not have a direct effect on your cholesterol levels, it does play a role in your overall heart health. “Dehydration makes it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body,” explains Jamie Baham, M.S., R.D.N., L.D., a cancer prevention registered dietitian at Ladybug Nutrition. One study published in the European Heart Journal also found that maintaining optimal hydration, especially as you get older, may help slow declines in cardiac function and reduce your risk of heart failure.

Staying well hydrated may also support your efforts to make the healthy decisions that work to lower cholesterol. “One way that water helps our bodies maintain healthy cholesterol levels is in aiding removal of waste and bile,” explains Baham. “When we consume foods that are higher in fiber, which lowers cholesterol, water is key in having a healthy bowel movement and removing cholesterol through the stool. Without water, you’ll be trying to pass a hard stool—which is constipation.”

Likewise, the more water you drink, the fewer sugary beverages you’re likely to have. According to a study in The Journal of Nutrition, higher consumption of sugary drinks is associated with higher levels of triglycerides and LDL “bad” cholesterol. “Sugary drinks cause spikes in insulin, which signals the body to produce more cholesterol,” explains Peruvemba. She adds that drinking enough water can also help prevent confusing thirst for hunger, potentially reducing your intake of fatty, sugary, or processed foods that can also contribute to high cholesterol.

“Drinking adequate water is definitely a support to lowering cholesterol, but it cannot be used as a single-handed treatment plan,” Baham says. Water won’t directly lower your cholesterol, but getting enough can make it easier to make decisions in the kitchen that will help get your numbers down, plus support your heart health overall.