Cholesterol as a Vegan

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.

Vegan Cholesterol LevelsMy 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. I 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.

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4 Comments

  1. 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. :)

    1. 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! :)

  2. I, too, had amazing results after going vegan! It was such a satisfying moment to see those positive changes :-)

    1. I agree – I was smiling all day. I told everyone who I talked to LOL. TMI? It’s fine ;)

      Congrats on your success! <3

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