A Harvard medical student's health experiment switching to a vegan diet resulted in an unexpected increase in LDL cholesterol levels. The student consumed a plant-based diet focusing on tofu, green vegetables, dark chocolate, and macadamia nut butter, leading to weight loss and a spike in cholesterol.
Key Points
LDL cholesterol spiked on vegan keto diet due to calorie reduction and weight loss
Lean populations with lower BMI may experience LDL increase on low-carb diets
Genetics play a role in cholesterol metabolism
Pros
Exploration of the impact of vegan diet on health
Revealing the complexity of cholesterol levels in response to diet
Cons
Unexpected increase in LDL cholesterol levels on a vegan diet