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.

Went vegan almost ten years ago after watching What The Health and it was the best decision I’ve ever made! I do it for the animals for the planet and for my health!

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.

My journey began like most with a carnivore diet or standard American Diet (S.A.D). I used to love my meats medium rare. I used to love eating McDonalds for convenience. I used to eat dairy. You Tube shaped my life towards WFPB one unrelated video to another and the pop up video suggestions somehow led me to Dr Brooke Goldner’s story on how she healed herself from her autoimmune immune disease while becoming a doctor. Evidence based information appealed most to me and when I trusted the evidence I progressed to listen to other people’s personal health journeys on related vegan, Whole Foods plant based, and raw vegans stories. I am a Chinese female who came to America when I was 5 years old and Luckily before the age of 47, my lab work were all normal levels. My blood pressure and energy level were my only concern and was not on any prescribed medications. I only recently this year 2022 at 47 years old start my whole food-raw plant based lifestyle as an self experiment. I am 48 now and have been transitioning well with 95% whole food raw plant based diet and 5% seafood or poultry (social family gatherings). I had notice without cardiovascular exercise that my blood pressure remains steadily around 115/75. The biggest difference I notice is in my maintain level of energy throughout the day. I hike mountains and I used to load up on a heavy meal before the activity but now I either fast, hydrate with coconut water or have a green drink before hiking and I have not feared my energy getting depleted during the exercise up to 2-3 hours long. I do listen to my body’s needs and it has served me well. I will continue to maintain my lifestyle and eventually be 100% whole food raw plant based but for now I am happy with results and knowing I am my biggest preventer of my own demise. I hope my story reaches someone.

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.