After my cholesterol hit 200mg/dL last year, I (41F, 5’2”, 109lbs) went in search for a natural remedy and found that a plant-based diet is the way to go. So I committed to be 80-85% plant based (in the way I calculate this is only eating 1-3 meals a week that have significant meat or dairy) with as much WFPB as I could and this has been a really nice balance of overall eating more healthy and still enjoying special occasions and sometimes I just want chili cheese fries.
So one year later I’m down almost 30 mg/dL and I’m really happy with this result. I will continue to improve my diet and increase exercise. I’m looking forward to a long and healthy life despite my family history of high cholesterol, heart bypasses, and heart attack.
by CattrahM
5 Comments
>I’m looking forward to a long and healthy life despite my family history of high cholesterol, heart bypasses, and heart attack.
Get your [Lipoprotein(a)](https://www.healthline.com/health/lipoprotein-a) tested. High risk individuals should shoot for an LDL of 50. I am and combine improved food with 10mg rosuvastatin. See r/cholesterol for more information.
That’s awesome news! I was just over the threshold for high cholesterol and within 6 weeks of plant based it had dropped well into safe normal zones.
Nicely done! Works like a charm, eh? Keep it up!
That’s a fantastic transformation. A couple of thoughts I have as a physician who manages my own patients with high cholesterol, it’s important to focus on the numbers that matter most, in this case it would be your LDL and ideally, as other suggested, get an expanded panel such as apoB and Lp(a).
It’s also important to remember that it’s not just your cholesterol numbers that drive cardiovascular risk but also inflammation, fatty liver, metabolic dysfunction, stress. If you can manage these as well, you’ll lower your overall risk.
I’ve been plant based for 40+ years & was told my cholesterol was dangerously high. Possibly genetics, maybe previous smoking & drinking, but when I looked at my diet I realised I was eating way too much salt & saturated fats. I tried to reduce it naturally but as was pointed out to me by a friend: you’ll manage with big changes, but you know after your measurements come down, you’ll need to stick with that new rigid & bland lifestyle. Made changes re salt & fat but opted for statins too. No longer a walking heart attack/stroke & don’t feel like I’m denying myself too many pleasures