Followed Diet
Health Conditions
Plant-Powered Wellnesses

Share These Stories to Inspire Change

ms. Linda M.

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.

Catherine

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.

Michael T.

reversed plaqued arteries
lost stomach weight

mr. Tania

I have been waivering between wfpb and vegan for the last 3 years. About a year and a half ago I started getting menopause symptoms (I was 49), and really struggled with the hot flashes, poor sleep, weight gain, etc. I felt like I had lost control of myself. There isn’t much information out there about menopause and plant based benefits but I decided I needed to commit more fully to wfpb with no oil, salt and sugar. The results became very obvious very quickly. When I remove fats and oils from my diet I have no hot flashes at all. This is noticeable after just 1 meal. No oils and fats coating my endothelial cells which affects my circulatory system hence no hot flashes. Amazing! I just needed to put in the work and then pay attention to what my body was telling me. From there I have been able to sleep better and control my weight gain. I am back in control.

Erika R.

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!

Paul S.

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

Denise P.

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.

Daniel R.

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

Helen W.

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.

Merel K.

In my eyes at the time, I was not experiencing any health issues. Since I was young and thin, what can be wrong right? I went vegan when I was 24 years old for the animals. After a year I realised how bad I was actually feeling. I had palpitations every few months which has only come back twice the first year of being vegan. I’m 27 now. My skin feels and looks better even though I never had any acne. And my organs feel like they are 5 kilograms lighter and resting. My body apparently was working overtime to process all the bad food that I ate before. When I eat less processed food I can also focus better on my work. I have ADD and have not used my medication for at least a year now. Having my body healthy gave me the time to focus on my mental health and now I can deal with my ADD much easier.

Donna W.

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.

Linda T.

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.

Yannick B.

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…

Jet B.

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.

Sand H.

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!

Kathy P.

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).

Rakesh K.

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.

Marian E.

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.

monica m.

Plant-based since 1994, except for 6 backslid years, which I regret. Diet For a New America, by John Robbins, was my inspiration. I feel more energy and have kept a healthier weight on a plant-based diet.

Lives Impacted: 3,295

A Plant-Based Lifestyle has helped with:

Anxiety : 1,046 Arthritis : 749 Autoimmune disease : 499 Blood Pressure : 1,084 Cancer : 235 Cardiovascular Disease : 424 Cholesterol &/or Triglycerides : 1,295 Depression : 915 Digestive Health : 1,766 Energy Levels : 1,913 HGB A1C : 360 Pre-Diabetes : 406 Prescriptions : 517 Sexual Performance : 458 Skin Health Issues : 1,056 Sleep : 1,139 Type-2 diabetes : 203 Weight-loss : 1,825 Women's Health Issues : 587
Lives Impacted: 3,295

A Plant-Based Lifestyle has helped with:

Anxiety : 1,046 Arthritis : 749 Autoimmune disease : 499 Blood Pressure : 1,084 Cancer : 235 Cardiovascular Disease : 424 Cholesterol &/or Triglycerides : 1,295 Depression : 915 Digestive Health : 1,766 Energy Levels : 1,913 HGB A1C : 360 Pre-Diabetes : 406 Prescriptions : 517 Sexual Performance : 458 Skin Health Issues : 1,056 Sleep : 1,139 Type-2 diabetes : 203 Weight-loss : 1,825 Women's Health Issues : 587