A routine check-up revealed she had low HDL, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart disease. “I assumed being vegan meant I was automatically healthy,” she says. “But numbers don’t lie.”
Rather than panic, Lyric got curious. She learned that certain plant-based foods—like avocados, nuts, olive oil, and fiber-rich legumes—could actually raise HDL levels naturally.
So she didn’t overhaul her entire diet overnight. She just got intentional.
“I didn’t need a complicated plan—I needed a sustainable one,” she says.
Lyric focused on small changes that made a big impact. She added ground flaxseed to her smoothies. Swapped processed snacks for homemade hummus and veggies. Cooked with olive oil instead of coconut oil.
And she made sure every meal included some healthy fat—whether it was nut butter, seeds, or avocado.
The biggest shift wasn’t in her meals—it was in her mindset. “I stopped thinking of food as ‘vegan enough’ and started asking, ‘Is this nourishing me?’”
Three months later, her HDL had climbed significantly—and she felt stronger, both physically and emotionally. “Being vegan isn’t about perfection,” Lyric says.
“It’s about finding ways to care for yourself and the planet at the same time.”
