N = 1: A Science-Guided Personal Investigation into What a Plant-Based Diet Can and Cannot Do to Address Cardiovascular Diseases

According to the CDC, heart disease is the most common cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for one in every five American deaths. Typically physicians prescribe pharmaceuticals that address cholesterol and high blood pressure to lower risk factors and prolong patient life. Some patients and doctors, however, seeking to avoid a lifetime of prescription medications, are trying alternative methods. In this chapter, the author, diagnosed with high LDL cholesterol and elevated blood pressure, conducts an “N = 1” study on himself in conjunction with his cardiologist to see if a vegan diet could lower his risk factors. The motivations and results of this informal study follow in the pages ahead. An earlier version of this article appeared in the September 2020 issue of Eating Well.