You know when you hear something over and over again—like a whisper from the universe that turns into a full-blown shout? That’s what happened to me with cholesterol. It kept popping up in conversations, on lab reports, in quiet worried thoughts at 3 a.m. I tried 2 different statins and the side effects had me suffering with whole body aches that became unbearable. I called my Doctor and told him 'NO statins' for me! Hey Cholesterol! One day I decided to stop brushing it off like a dropped pea under the kitchen table and actually do something about it.
Enter: the Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) lifestyle. Not a diet. Not a trend. Just a more intentional, colorful, life-giving way to eat.
So, What is Whole Food Plant-Based Eating?
In the simplest terms:
Whole = as close to nature as possible (unprocessed or minimally processed).
Food = real food, not food-like substances.
Plant-Based = vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds galore.
No animal products. No dairy. No oils (if you’re going all-in). Definitely no “cheeze-powder-dusted-fake-meat-crunchy-things” from the middle aisle of the grocery store.
It’s food your great-grandparents would recognize. You know… before everything came shrink-wrapped or pre-seasoned with words you can’t pronounce.
The Big Cholesterol Question
Can this lifestyle really lower cholesterol?
Yes. Yes. YES. (And I say this both personally and passionately.)
Animal products and processed foods are the main culprits in raising LDL cholesterol—aka the "lousy" kind. Plants don’t contain dietary cholesterol at all. And when you fill your plate with fiber-rich, antioxidant-packed foods, your body starts cleaning house. Arteries cheer. Heartbeats dance.
Some plant foods even act like little brooms, sweeping cholesterol out of your bloodstream. Hello, oats, beans, and flaxseeds—I see you working your magic.
THE JACKPOT:
When you cut out meat and dairy from your diet, you’re essentially giving your body a cholesterol vacation—in the best possible way. That’s because animal products are the only source of dietary cholesterol. Plants? They don’t come with any. None. Zilch. So by embracing a whole food plant-based lifestyle, you’re naturally eliminating cholesterol from your plate without counting a single gram or reading confusing labels. It’s like quietly removing the troublemakers from the party and suddenly the whole room feels lighter, calmer, healthier.
Real Talk: My Experience
Let me be clear. This wasn’t about perfection. I didn’t suddenly become a quinoa guru overnight. I stumbled. I craved cheese (don’t we all?). I googled “does butter count as a plant?” more than once.
But over time, something shifted. I started to crave how good I felt—lighter, clearer, more energized. And when I saw the numbers move in the right direction? That was the cherry on top (an actual cherry, not the maraschino kind swimming in syrup).
I became my own experiment—and my cholesterol levels thanked me.
What I Learned Along the Way
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Fiber is your friend. It binds to cholesterol and helps usher it out of your system like a bouncer at a sketchy nightclub.
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Nuts and seeds aren't the enemy. In moderation, they support heart health. Think: a sprinkle of walnuts, not a jar of almond butter with a spoon.
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Reading labels is a full-time job. But it gets easier, promise.
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Cooking at home is empowering. I never thought I'd get this excited about lentils.
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Your taste buds change. What once tasted “too healthy” becomes deliciously satisfying.
Final Thoughts (With Love + Broccoli)
This isn’t about restriction. It’s about abundance. There’s so much beauty (and flavor!) in plants. A WFPB lifestyle isn’t just good for your cholesterol—it’s good for your mood, your sleep, your skin, your whole self.
And if you’re plant-curious, heart-concerned, or just tired of feeling blah—consider this your nudge.
You don’t have to go all in tomorrow. But maybe try a Meatless Monday. Or swap cream for oat milk. Or eat a rainbow that didn’t come from a candy wrapper.
Your heart (and future self) will thank you.
With leafy green love,
Patti
NOTE: This is my personal wellness experience and not intended as medical advice.
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