hiii guys!
I wanted to get personal for a second on here and talk about cholesterol. I recently had my numbers checked for the first time since going vegan over 2 years ago, and was so happy to see my results.
Before going vegan, my cholesterol was not great. High cholesterol levels run in my family, and I kinda-sorta knew that I was going to be doomed. Aside from it being hereditary, my diet wasn’t great. I liked to think it was “clean eating,” but really… I ate way too much cheese and sugary desserts. On top of that, I was eating all the crappy “100 calorie snack packs” that I foolishly thought were okay for my insides. So needless to say, my total cholesterol in 2012 was above 200 and my LDL (bad cholesterol levels) were borderline high.
Before I show you my results, let me give you a quick lesson on how to understand your cholesterol levels.
- Total cholesterol is the overall amount of cholesterol found in your blood (including both LDL and HDL)
- LDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is the “bad” cholesterol – it blocks your blood vessels and can increase risk of heart disease.
- HDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is the “good” cholesterol – it can help protect you from heart disease. You want high HDL levels!
Cholesterol levels for adults according to Heathline are outlined here – it goes into depth on each one and also includes children. But for now, let’s just look at what is recommended for optimal health:
- Total: Lower than 200
- HDL: More than 60
- LDL: Less than 100
So now – here are mine. In 2012, I was eating a meat and dairy diet. In 2016, I’ve been eating vegan for 2 years.
My total cholesterol went down nearly 70 spots. I was absolutely ECSTATIC to see that by literally doing nothing but cutting out meat and dairy, my cholesterol became perfect. I still eat vegan ice cream on the weekends and indulge in treats – you guys know this. But everything that I eat is cholesterol-free. Did you know that? When you are checking labels and notice that there is cholesterol in a product, it is impossible to be vegan. That’s because only products that contain animal-based ingredients have cholesterol. So a plant-based diet is 100% cholesterol free – what you see above is simply the cholesterol that my own body generates. And accordingly to above, it is a very healthy level!
LDL levels also shot down – thankfully. I remember feeling terrible about the number 124. It wasn’t considered high – yet – but borderline. I’d like to see this number get lower, but under 100 is a fantastic start.
HDL levels could be higher. It is recommended to be over 60, but I am pretty damn close. My diet is filled with beans, avocado, and healthy oils. IÂ feel good about this number.
I really can’t say it enough – I smiled all day about this. I have never ever in my life taken medication to help with cholesterol – ever! This was literally fixed by fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and the omission of animal products. My lifestyle and diet fixed it. I love seeing hard numbers and evidence that a vegan diet is for me. I’ve personally never felt healthier, and my levels have never been so on point. I truly feel that this is doing the very best for my body. Sure, I gained about 10 lbs going vegan, but the numbers from the inside really matter to me. Seeing this, I know I am healthier and better off.
Thanks for letting my get personal on here for a sec! If you haven’t had your cholesterol checked in a while, I encourage you to. I think it’s important to know where your insides stand at all times. If it’s perfect, yay! If not, a more plant-based diet may be the key to lowering it. No need for medication or pills or anything. Just more plants.
Plants are life <3 and I’ve never been happier with my overall health. I hope this can inspire just one person to make some changes. :)
Thanks for listening to my health ramble. xx bianca
NOTE: I am not a doctor or medical/health professional. These are my personal results and feelings on my cholesterol. Please speak with your doctor to discuss yours and what is healthy for you.
Cool. My cardiologist wants me to check my cholesterol but it was 121 with a LDL of 69 and a HDL of 41 a few years ago when I had been pescetarian for less than a year. Now that I haven’t eaten meat (including fish) in three years and haven’t eaten dairy or eggs in 1 1/2 years I really want to see what my cholesterol is now. :)
Wow – your numbers are great! I know, it’s super exciting to see the difference once you have gone a few years without that stuff. I’m sure you’ll see some difference! :)
I, too, had amazing results after going vegan! It was such a satisfying moment to see those positive changes :-)
I agree – I was smiling all day. I told everyone who I talked to LOL. TMI? It’s fine ;)
Congrats on your success! <3