Thirty six years ago, I would have died. I was only 44 years old and had just been diagnosed with severe heart disease, high blood pressure, Thyroid Cancer, pre diabetes and I was almost 55 lbs. overweight. I was an aerobic instructor teaching 25 classes of aerobics per week. I thought I was eating a healthy diet of chicken, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Luckily for me, my then new neighbor told me about Dr. John McDougall and I read his book. I could not believe that his patients were all getting over cancer, heart disease, diabetes and all chronic diseases. I jumped right in and never went back for more radiation and now I have perfect health. I just had to change to a starch based, whole food plant exclusive diet without oil. Now, at 80 I have great health and energy and still teach aerobics.

I went 100% plant-based in 2015 due to witnessing my parents’ declining health due to heart disease, diabetes and dementia. I am the eldest of 8 and the only one of my siblings who takes no meds or has any medical issues of any kind. I have more energy than even my youngest sister.

reversed plaqued arteries
lost stomach weight

Vegan 8 years. Living it with my family of three!

I was inspired by my neighbors who suggested I give up dairy for a couple of weeks when I told them about severe arthritic pain and heart palpitations. (Much of my diet consisted of milk – for Slim Fast shakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, etc.) After complete miraculous relief after 2 weeks, I was totally convinced and started my move to a WFPB diet. I took off 45 pounds and have never felt so good! Watched lots of documentaries along the way to better inform and convince myself that this was absolutely the right path. But it was not until I witnessed the horrific images of senseless animal torture that were embedded into my brain, never to be erased, that I knew I was moving forward to a better, brighter future, never to look back.

I will share only one of the many benefits a WFPB diet gave me. For over 15 years I strenuously trained in those chi kung and tai chi exercises without ever being able to settle and build up, harness and circulate my mind/energy/chi throughout my body in a natural, easy and smooth way. All this started to change when I adopted a WFPB lifestyle almost 4 years ago 🙂 I can now teach what I learned, finally…

I’m a 63 year-old male, 22 or better BMI most of my life and I’ve had atrial fibrillation for 32 years. The AF started as paroxysmal and had become permanent in the past ten years or so. About 8 months ago I stated having angina, I had 225 total cholesterol and 133 LDL and was pre-diabetic. I could no longer hike the mountains around my home that I loved and instead hiked a bit and read a book in the forest. Four months ago, an angiogram showed 50-60% blockage in my LAD. Thankfully, no stent was needed but I changed to a WFPB, no oil lifestyle and within the first two weeks lost the angina, after two months I had 126 Total Cholesterol and 58 LDL (without statins), in the “heart-attack” proof category and am so relieved. I’m again able to hike mountains that I’ve not done for at least ten years. I follow Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s advice closely and am very thankful to a friend who got off his medications after a triple bypass following this lifestyle who shared this information with me. I’ve had a steady heart rate and minimal AF as revealed by an EKG two months after my angiogram. I have more energy, sleep better, have better skin around my back (no little bumps), my gums have healed very quickly after a tooth extraction, recovery after my long hikes that would have taken three or four days now happens overnight. I’m no longer pre-diabetic and my blood sugar is normal even as I stopped taking Metformin. I’m still on medication for my AF and a blood thinner but am hopeful that these can be reduced or stopped when I see my cardiologist in another four months. I feel as if I’m in my thirties again and would love to have others improve their health as well with this simple (but not easy) lifestyle change.

I’ve been vegan for 11 years and WFPB for about 5 years of that. I am certified in plant-based nutrition from eCornell, and am trained in vegan cooking and desserts from Rouxbe cooking school. My family is also vegan (husband and two kids).

Following a wfpb oil free diet has changed my life for the better. I’m confident this is the optimal diet for health and longevity.

About 3 years ago I picked up a book from the Costco book stand. It was Dr. Greger’s How Not to Die. It was such an easy read that I read it real quick then I started making the recipes. I was pre diabetic at the time and obese, but little by little I started implementing Dr. Greger’s recipes and reading more and more health books, like Chef AJ’s The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss and many others. Soon I lost ten pounds and have kept them off but I am still struggling to lose weight because I have a hard time sticking to the plan on the weekend. I am a work in progress but I truly love taking better care of myself and eating healthy, wholesome food. I am no longer pre diabetic and my blood pressure has gone down. My Triglycerides went down too. I am very happy about that!

All my life ive been overweight. Heart disease and high cholesterol seems to plague the majority of family members. Switching to a WFPB diet has made it possible for me to maintain a 100 lb weight loss for over 6 years. Also, I’ve lowered my A1c from 6.2 to 5.4 and my cholesterol from 289 to 190.
An added plus is my grocery bill. I can buy staples like rice and beans in bulk and some variety of greens and fruit are almost always on sale at my local grocery store.
People see my before snd after pictures and always say it doesn’t look like the same person.

I stopped eating animal products more than ten years ago and am following a fully plant-based diet and am thriving! I’ve maintained a thirty-five pound weight loss and my doctor says my blood pressure is fantastic! The best part of my plant-based lifestyle is I feel really good every day! I’ve eliminated virtually all of the aches and pains that began in my forties, I stay well and don’t catch many cold and flu bugs that circulate and don’t need to take medications. I am positive that plant-based eating has benefited me beyond my physical health. I am more optimistic than I was when younger have less anxiety in general. I look forward to the coming years and the possibilities life holds. I have big plans for things I want to do and accomplish. Choosing to become plant-based is one of the best and most important decisions I’ve ever made for myself.

I watched my parents with deformed hands from arthritis. My dad is suffering from DM II, as did so many of his family members. I looked my hands, finger joints hurt and my knees crepitus. My feet were burning and toe nails curl. I’m only my fifties and I was feeling old and depressed. I used to have constipation, frequency of every 3 to 7 days with lots of bloating. I transitioned to Whole Foods plant based diet over 10 years. Was stuck eating fish for a while because my husband’s doctor keep telling him he needs fish for his cholesterol. Felt much better now. I have more energy, I sleep better, joints no longer crepitus nor inflamed, regular bowel movements daily, anxiety went away, and my feet are no longer burning. I can go running once again �

I lost over 100 pounds at age 60 and eliminated all health problems by eating Whole Food Plant Based and following Chef AJ who helped me learn to make healthy delicious for free on YouTube.