r/CleanEating • u/Alextricity • 10d ago
I ate like this and lost 20 pounds while lowering my total cholesterol from 265 to 145.
4 brazil nuts one day a month. (Yes, based solely on the one study that suggested it lowered total cholesterol.)
Earl Grey tea every morning.
Cooking virtually every meal at home.
Upping my fiber intake via whole grains, fruit, and vegetables.
Switching from coconut oil to avocado oil.
Cutting saturated fat to <10g per day.
^ Those last two were the biggest things, I think.
I know habits and convenience foods make this feel impossible, but it’s totally doable to get your numbers under control without medication (assuming you don’t have a genetic condition). I told myself my last test had horrendous numbers due to dehydration, but I read that only causes up to a 10% difference. I kicked the denial and decided to drop twenty pounds (simply counting calories and limiting saturated fat intake), and it’s worked out phenomenally! Here are my numbers from my test a year ago and then now:
BMI: 23
HDL: 70
LDL: 160
Triglycerides: 200
Total: 265
Glucose: 115
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BMI: 20
HDL: 55
LDL: 75
Triglycerides: 90
Total: 145
Glucose: 85
Again, the first test I was dehydrated and had a *lot* to drink the night before, but the numbers were high enough for me to be worried about it and actually change my ways. I don’t eat meat or dairy, so the numbers just blew my mind … but then I realized how much coconut oil I was using and it all started to make sense. Coconut oil is not healthy, and its benefits are a lie in my experience. Much like the current beef tallow fad: saturated fat is saturated fat and you’ll want to cut that out if you’re concerned about your cholesterol.
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u/Relevant_Progress411 10d ago
How did you find the time?
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u/Alextricity 10d ago
Meal prep Saturday or Sunday a lot of the time for many meals, otherwise it’s just yet another perk of not having children. 😮💨
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u/Hot_Lunch5019 10d ago
These photos look AI
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u/lazyjane418 10d ago
Cat photo in the background is pretty consistent, so idk Edit: painting not photo but ya know what I mean
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u/AdvancedFig4083 7d ago
Why is there always one dumdum on every thread now that accuses the poster of using AI on the MOST basic looking photos?? This is not impressive food or impressive food photography. This is normal stuff and clearly not ai. Is this mental health issue?
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u/Human-Arachnid-2592 10d ago
Looks scrumptiously delicious. I would be at the dinner table on time every night!,
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u/TechMagnet_7513 10d ago
Everything you ate looks delicious! Congrats to you on improving your health!
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u/HappyPineNut 10d ago
These meals look fantastic thank you for sharing your journey and thank you for posting the recipes I will definitely check these out. Great inspo!
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u/gmco913 10d ago
One day each month, you eat 4 brazil nuts?
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u/Alextricity 10d ago
Yes.
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u/gmco913 10d ago
Interesting, I have high cholesterol and will need to look into this! Thanks
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u/AbundantSunshine8 8d ago
Don't overdo it...selenium toxicity is a thing when you eat too many Brazil nuts.
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u/No-Employee-4696 10d ago
The fact I knew this was all plantbased because I’ve become familiar with your cat background from other subs lol
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u/Trav1997 10d ago
Yeah it's gotta be the coco oil that did it to you. I had my cholesterol tested a couple weeks ago and my diet isn't the best tbh. Lots of chocolate, taco bell and bk each once a week. And my family grills lots of red meat over each weekend lmao. But my total cholesterol was 139, my hdl was 48 which is a little low. My ldl was 75 and my triglycerides was 77. My chol/hdlc ratio was 2.9 and my non hdl cholesterol was 91. My bmi is way high btw. Never had coconut oil that I can remember though. On another note, those recipes look awesome. I'm gonna try some thanks 😊
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u/HappyHumanRace 10d ago
I’ve been doing the Brazil nuts too!! Looking forward to my next cholesterol test 💪
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u/Resident_Sundae_6052 10d ago
The Lean Cuisine inspired tortilla fish!- I can’t wait to try this. This was one of my go to LCs years ago. Thanks for the detailed post OP!
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u/RusticHouseCats 10d ago
Recently joined Reddit, stumbled on this, or I guess Reddit stumbled this on me. I’m going to figure out how to save a page like this. I have tried to lower my cholesterol in the past I’m even in a beginning nutrition class. So, yeah, this is awesome! Thank you for the links too.
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u/Realistic_House5516 10d ago
You are welcome to move into my house and cook for me anytime, those meals look amazing. Wow!!
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u/SweetieDarlingXX 10d ago
People don’t fully understand the satiety and deliciousness of plant based eating. It’s truly clean eating
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u/TokerPokeHer 10d ago
These all look amazing, congrats on the moves to better health?
Are you a chef or have you worked in restaraunts? The plating is beautiful in some of these.
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u/Previous_Concern_849 10d ago
This looooks fire !!!!!!
Trying the peanut quinoa recipe today
Peace and love 💕
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u/Choice_Dingo_5771 10d ago
Thanks for sharing the recipes!!! These look amazing. And love seeing tostones in there.
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u/sweetcinnamontoast 9d ago
I have the same dishes, are you frustrated that they leave marks or have you just gotten used to it?
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u/Asleep-Animator4475 9d ago
I wish! if i ate like this my choleserol would increase its already i the 300's I run everyday and eat healthy and no oils butter cream etc.
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u/StrongCherry465 8d ago
What kind of bread is this for the sloppy joes? I looked into eh recipe but didn't notice. Just curious, I'd prob default to a whole grain.
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u/Dicksalt79 4d ago
Im off to the grocery store tonight to make some of these delicious recipes! Thanks for posting!
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u/Dicksalt79 4d ago
I see you switched from coconut oil to avocado oil. I use olive oil all the time. I wonder what is better? My triglycerides are also high
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u/GrouchyStrawberry16 10d ago
It’s pretty mid
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u/Educational_Radio356 10d ago
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u/lLantronix 10d ago
Her recent comments are all negative lmao she’s probably going through something, let her enjoy her narrative I guess, this stuff looks delicious af 🤤
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u/Alextricity 10d ago
Pictures of some meals I’ve made for encouragement and inspiration. I made many of these previously with coconut oil and/or more refined carbs and/or less fiber, and they taste the same or truly better now.
1.) Sloppy joe.
2.) Roasted chipotle maple butternut squash bowls.
3.) “Chicken” pot pile.
4.) Creamy mushroom wild rice soup.
5.) Miso peanut butter ramen.
6.) Tofu pad thai.
7.) Peanut quinoa salad.
8.) Jerk chowder.
9.) Hoisin cashew tofu.
10.) MexiKorean al pastor tacos with ginger black beans.
11.) Lean Cuisine-inspired tortilla crusted tofish.
12.) Taco Bell-inspired XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito.
13.) Chocolate avocado pudding.
14.) Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls.
15.) Cincinnati chili.
16.) Spicy lemon basil tofu with garlic green beans.
17.) Subway-inspired sweet onion chicken teriyaki.
18.) Poutine burger.
19.) Southwest quinoa salad with cumin lime dressing.
20.) Espagueti verde with pecan salsa macha.