Snapshot from my own bloodwork, showing dramatic improvement in my total cholesterol levels after going vegan in Fall ‘23. At the far left, where I had a red flag, I was eating the supposedly “healthier” forms of meat such as organic and wild game. The second data point is me switching to lean meats like extra lean ground turkey and bonelss skinless chicken breast, which barely nudged my cholesterol levels below the red flag zone. After going vegan, my total cholesterol is much closer to the mean, which is further reiterated below in the view of my LDL (bad cholesterol) levels.

Lifestyle

No, Dietary Cholesterol is Not 10% of Your Blood Cholesterol: That’s Food Industry Funded Bullshit

The notion that dietary cholesterol accounts for only 10% of the cholesterol levels in one’s bloodwork is a pervasive myth, largely propagated by the food industry. This misleading statistic suggests that the cholesterol consumed through diet has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels, which significantly downplays the role of dietary choices in managing cholesterol. My personal experience and bloodwork results provide clear evidence that this claim is not just misleading but fundamentally incorrect.

When I transitioned to a vegan diet, the changes in my cholesterol levels were profound. My bad cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels dropped dramatically from the high region to the mean, indicating a significant improvement in my cardiovascular health. This transformation in my bloodwork is not an isolated case but aligns closely with numerous studies and the experiences of many advocates of plant-based diets. These findings highlight the substantial impact that dietary cholesterol from animal-based foods can have on blood cholesterol levels and the potential for a plant-based diet to radically reduce these levels.

My LDL (bad cholesterol) levels after going vegan in Fall ‘23.

The relationship between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol is well-documented in scientific literature. When consuming animal-based foods rich in cholesterol, such as meat, dairy, and eggs, the body absorbs this cholesterol, which can then contribute to higher levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. Elevated LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke. By eliminating these sources of dietary cholesterol and adopting a plant-based diet, which is naturally low in cholesterol, it is possible to achieve significant reductions in blood cholesterol levels.

The dramatic improvements in my cholesterol levels underscore the falsehood of the 10% myth. This myth is often supported by food industry marketing and other sources of disinformation that seek to downplay the health risks associated with animal-based foods. These sources argue that dietary cholesterol has a negligible effect on blood cholesterol, thereby encouraging the continued consumption of high-cholesterol foods without concern for their health implications. However, my personal experience, coupled with a wealth of scientific evidence, demonstrates that this is not the case.

A plant-based diet, free from the cholesterol found in animal products, can have a profound impact on blood cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that individuals who adopt a vegan diet can experience reductions in LDL cholesterol of 15–30%, far exceeding the purported 10% influence of dietary cholesterol (my own results have been much better, actually). This significant reduction highlights the power of diet in managing cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also illustrates the misleading nature of the 10% claim, which serves to protect industry interests rather than public health.