People on a meat-only diet for up to a few years tend to see their 'bad' and total cholesterol go up a lot, which might raise their risk of heart problems.

People eating only meat had very high 'bad' cholesterol but also high 'good' cholesterol and very low triglycerides — a pattern that usually means their bodies handle sugar well.

Eating more cholesterol from foods like eggs or liver is linked to higher bad cholesterol levels in people eating strictly controlled diets.

If you're overweight and have high cholesterol, eating a vegan diet low in carbs for 6 months might lower your bad cholesterol markers more than a vegetarian diet high in carbs — meaning your heart might be at lower risk.

People who eat a lot of fat and very few carbs tend to have higher cholesterol numbers than those who eat plant-based or mixed diets, and more than 7 in 10 of them have cholesterol levels that doctors consider too high—especially if they’re eating super low-carb.

If you're overweight and have high cholesterol, eating a vegan diet low in carbs (but high in fats from nuts and oils) for 6 months might help you lose more weight and lower your bad cholesterol more than eating a vegetarian diet high in carbs.