Back to Success Stories

Diane R

I went on a plant based diet 10 years ago while taking the T.Colin Campbell course online through Cornell U. My primary reason was to see if I could reduce my LDL cholesterol enough to get off of my statin and I was able to do this very quickly. 10 years later and my LDL is the lowest it’s ever been. I have always been thin and on a plant based diet I had to learn how to eat to keep from losing weight. I also have a life long history of constipation which fully resolved on a plant based diet. I now have a multitude of other reasons to remain plant based. It makes me happy every day to be living an intentional lifestyle consistent with my values.

Conditions Improved

Anxiety, Cholesterol &/or Triglycerides, Digestive Health, Prescriptions ,New Farmacy , Fountain of Youth Gallery

Similar Stories

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.

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

I rid myself of health anxiety 7 years ago and changed my perception to risk of non communicable diseases. I am 100% plant based and 90% whole foods plant based. My family eats and lives like this too. Its truly empowering.

I actually did it! I broke free from eating animals and animal products! And I love it!

So many things have healed in my body since going plant based. My dry skin and scalp have healed. My digestive issues have improved so much and my blood pressure is healthy now.

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.

Overweight, not sleeping, low energy and while up all night I found Dr Neal Barnard on YouTube. After one podcast I was hooked. I showed my 91 year old Mother the program and after two weeks of changing our diets she was no longer diabetic according to her doctor. We have each lost a tremendous amount of weight and my husband who is transitioning has lost twenty pounds without trying. Best sleepless night I’ve ever had!

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).

I have recently started while plant based diet and lost 14 kgs in just four months. Also, my sleep has improved. I am getting better at energy level and memory retention.

My husband, children and I all went WFPB immediately after reading The Whole Foods Diet: The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity. I then dove into more research for months on end and had to figure out how to cook again. My hot flashes disappeared! My plantar fasciitis disappeared! My husband’s high blood pressure was reversed! While listening to plant-based podcasts, I ended up learning about the horrors of animal agriculture for the animals, and the environment. As a result, 7 months after going plant-based I became and ethical vegan and animal rights activist. I’ve now have a curated-content podcast, Plant Based Briefing, where I narrate articles, with permission, on all things plant-based and vegan related in 10 minutes per day.

I have been vegan 10 years and 3-4 years whole food plant based. I have lost 140 lb over the past 10 years and came off 3 blood pressure medicines and 3 diabetes medicines.

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.

EVERY STORY COUNTS

Inspire change, one story at a time. Share now!

Lives Impacted: 3,300

A Plant-Based Lifestyle has helped with:

Anxiety : 1,047 Arthritis : 749 Autoimmune disease : 499 Blood Pressure : 1,082 Cancer : 236 Cardiovascular Disease : 423 Cholesterol &/or Triglycerides : 1,296 Depression : 917 Digestive Health : 1,767 Energy Levels : 1,913 HGB A1C : 360 Pre-Diabetes : 405 Prescriptions : 519 Sexual Performance : 457 Skin Health Issues : 1,057 Sleep : 1,140 Type-2 diabetes : 203 Weight-loss : 1,826 Women's Health Issues : 586