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Mama to Many (TN) on 11/20/2022: 
It's been 10 months since my report on my husband's success with a plant-based diet for his high cholesterol.
Since then, he has introduced a more regular use of chicken and turkey (mostly added to curries! ), an egg here and there, and fish (salmon) a couple of times a month. He drinks a glass of wine with dinner once in a while and has an occasional beer. He is still gluten free and sugar free and eats no dairy or red meat or pork. I would call it a plant-based diet still, but we were not sure what the changes would do to his cholesterol. He still consumes oatmeal and raw carrots most days.
He had bloodwork done last week. His cholesterol is down to 114! HDL is still 65. Doctor was thrilled. His blood pressure is even a bit lower, and he got the go ahead to try going without medication for a while and see what happens.
His decades of ibs-d symptoms are also pretty much gone. I believe dairy was the problem all along.
I also had bloodwork done and my cholesterol is 110. HDL 48. I eat pretty much the same as my husband, minus the beer and wine and carrots. (I don't like beer, wine gives me a headache, and carrots are hard on my jaw.)
Any special diet is easier to do with someone else! When we go to pot lucks I often bring a Massaman Curry and rice, our favorite, and now a favorite of some of our friends.
Happy early Thanksgiving, you all!
~Mama to Many~
Mama to Many (TN) on 01/22/2022:
I am happy to report that 6 months on a plant-based diet has done wonders for my husband's cholesterol.
In July, my husband's doctor was concerned because his cholesterol (specifically, the "bad cholesterol") was elevated AND his calcium cardiac test revealed significant blockages in all of the main arteries in his heart. My husband has a bad heart history in his family.
His doctor said, "I can write you a prescription for statins or you can go vegan, gluten free, sugar free." The doctor said that would be the diet that could potentially reduce the plaque in his arteries.
So, my meat and potatoes husband went gf, sf, vegan. (He didn't have to give up potatoes! ) This is about how I eat anyway, due to Alpha Gal Syndrome. It was more motivating to make interesting meals for more than just myself.
Anyway, labs this week were the proof in the pudding!
In six months, his total cholesterol went from 182 to 122!
In six months, his LDL went from 121 to 65!
I am very proud of him.
We did not repeat the calcium cardiac score yet due to the significant amount of radiation exposure with that, but these numbers plus the other health benefits are motivating him to stay on this diet.
Some other things to note, which may have helped to improve his numbers -
He eats oatmeal every day for breakfast. Oatmeal is supposed to be good for cholesterol.
He eats raw baby carrots with guacamole or hummus with his lunch 5 days a week. Carrots are supposed to be good for cholesterol.
He uses a monkfruit sweetener in his coffee. He also uses oatmilk as a cream alternative.
My primary oil to use is olive oil. We also use some plant butter.
I make so many lentil recipes, his potassium is actually a tad elevated. (Lentils are a good source of potassium! )
I have made many, many recipes from a food blog - minimalist baker. They have been a lifesaver - fast recipes with not a ton of ingredients - and delicious. She even has a df, gf biscuit recipe that is amazing.
My husband's blood pressure is doing much better on this diet and he has been able to cut his blood pressure med in half and still has better readings than he did 6 months ago on the full dose! He may be able to get off this med completely.
He does eat fish and chicken and bread once in a while, mostly when we go out and he does partake in celebratory meals like weddings and holidays - he just tries to be moderate with portion sizes.
Oh, and he lost 50 pounds total without any effort beyond the effort of staying on the diet!
I am thankful for his perseverance. I want him to be around a long time. :)
~Mama to Many~
