Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American actor, bodybuilder, film producer, businessman, and former governor of California, is also a plant-based diet advocate. He has been eating a primarily plant-based diet for the last five years and said that it has done wonders for his cholesterol in a recent email newsletter.

He said he eats almost all vegan, with a few occasional exceptions. He has previously advocated for a vegan diet and talked about the benefits of this incredible diet. He has inspired and shown many bodybuilders that building muscle is just as easy on a plant-based diet.

Plant-based diets are highly beneficial for overall health and have been proven to reduce “bad” cholesterol levels, linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

“My bad cholesterol number is so low that my doctor thought I might be a different person,” Schwarzenegger said in the newsletter.

Animal-based food and processed meats and dairy products often contain saturated and trans fats, which increase cholesterol levels. Once consumed, saturated and trans fats trick the liver into making more unnecessary cholesterol.

The FDA recommends no more than 300mg of cholesterol per day, but an eight-ounce cut of steak has around 200 milligrams. On the other hand, vegetables like leafy greens and whole grains are extremely beneficial in lowering cholesterol.

Many switches can be made for a healthier life, like swapping out a steak for this vegan eggplant steak that has no cholesterol at all.

Exercise can also help keep cholesterol levels low. Even at the age of 74, Schwarzenegger is training regularly and shared that he works out six days a week in his newsletter.

Related Content:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger Says ‘Hasta la Vista’ to Meat
• Arnold Schwarzenegger Wants You to Terminate Meat From Your Plate to Save the Planet
• Understanding the Effects of Plant-Based Versus Animal-Based Products on Cholesterol
• Morrisons Adds 50 New Plant-Based Products

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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