One of the biggest misconceptions in regards to "dieting" is that you can drink all the "diet" drinks you want and you won't gain weight.  Artificial sweeteners literally are poisonous!  Yes, they are "calorie-free", but the havoc they wreak in our body is horrible.  

First of all, these sweeteners are man-made, they do not come from nature.  I can hear what you're saying, they start from a plant...and that's true.  However, they are processed with all kinds of other ingredients, and because this "food product" is not found in nature, our body doesn't know what to do with it.  

Studies were conducted by researchers asking participants to drink beverages that were made with regular table sugar and beverages with artificial sweeteners.  They did not tell the participants which sweeteners they were drinking.  The researchers then scanned their brains and drew bloods.  The group drinking the artificial sweeteners had brain activity in what's called the hypothalamus region, which regulates a person's appetite, and had other "abnormal brain activity".  The artificial sweeteners triggered a "hunger response" in the whole group of participants.  Also, this group's lab work showed increases in hormone activity.

The group of people drinking the beverages with just plain table sugar showed no "abnormal" brain activity whatsoever and this group's hypothalamus had no activity.  However, there was no "hormone activity" showing in their blood work, but their blood sugar did rise prompting their pancreas to secrete insulin, which is a normal response....this is what our body is programmed to do.  When given foods that comes straight from nature, our body knows how to "handle" it....all the man-made ingredients we feed ourselves everyday is a toxic overload and our body has to literally struggle to deal with it.  Our bodies are designed to protect us from "foreign invaders".....anything that is not real food, (if you can place it on your deck in the sun and you come back to it in a day or two and it looks the same), is a foreign invader and our body wants to "attack it" so it doesn't do us harm.  If we continue to feed ourselves with artificial and processed foods three times a day everyday, our body is going to start to wear down and lose it's fighting capabilities......and then the REAL TROUBLE begins.  

Artificial sweeteners are literally toxic to our body.  The more we drink and or eat foods with it, the more addicting they become.  There are all kinds of data, studies and research proving these artificial sweeteners are linked to all kinds of cancers, especially brain tumors!  Why isn't this information placed on anything containing artificial sweeteners...huge letters stating WARNING:  CONSUMING THIS PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH???  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning drinking beverages or eating foods loaded with plain table sugar....that's half our obesity problem in this country.  I believe everyone should stay away from sugar regardless...soda is absolutely horrible for anyone's health, whether it has plain sugar in it or artificial sweeteners...it's just that the soda with the artificial sweeteners has more toxic chemicals added to it than the regular soda, with a higher risk of cancers.  

My solution to this whole problem is---very simple, make your own flavored drink....I have a pitcher that was really meant for making loose tea....however, in the mesh basket instead of tea leaves, I put any kind of fruit I have on hand, cut up orange slices, strawberries, lemons, limes...anything...what really works well is frozen blueberries...the mesh basket is submerged in the water flavoring it with whatever fruit you are using flavoring the water.  The frozen blueberries turns the water purple and really is flavorful.  No sugar, no artificial sweeteners...nothing but plain old water and fruit...straight from nature.  And, it's dirt cheap....I fill the basket with whatever fruit I'm using for the day, and just continue filling the water as I drink it.  As a matter of fact, I have my whole office drinking from this pitcher!

Believe me, your body will thank you for giving it not only something it REQUIRES to do it's job, but, all the antioxidants that comes from the fruit fuels your cells with ammunition to fight off the enemy!

For anyone that has been following my blogs, you know I started a 12 week program entitled, Go Plant Strong! This past Wednesday was our second meeting...which means the 14 participants changed their eating habits for one week.  I asked that everyone eliminate artificial and processed foods from their diet...my rule was anything purchased in a box or package could not have more than 5 ingredients listed, and if there was an ingredient they could not pronounce let alone know what it was, they were not to buy it. That was my rule for week #1.  

However, because I gave my participants an over-view of what was to come, most of them cut out meat, and the others cut way back on meat for one week.  The results were AMAZING to me.  EVERY SINGLE PERSON lost weight...they lost between 3-11 pounds, in JUST ONE WEEK!  What was really interesting to me was there is one person that has been a vegetarian for years, but just could not lose weight.  She is heavier than she'd like to be, but thought she was eating a healthy diet.  When she completely eliminated the artificial processed foods, (she ate veggie burgers found in the freezer section of the market, as well as other packaged vegetarian items), she lost 5 POUNDS...5 pounds....this is a women that couldn't lose 1 pound, let alone 5 pounds, for years!

People reported to me that they felt less bloated, aches and pains were improving, and one young person that has been battling severe gout had absolutely NO SYMPTOMS for that week. The diabetic participants reported a drop in their blood sugars....this is one week's results!!

This week's goal is to eliminate meat....that means beef, chicken, pork, and yes, fish.  Anything with a face or a mother fits this category.  I know fish isn't "meat", but fish has cholesterol just like beef, chicken, and pork....maybe a LITTLE less, but it's there.  Now, I hear you saying what about the omega-3s in fish?  Of course the "fish industry" people want us to believe fish is the BEST source for omega-3s.....that's a myth---flaxseed has more omega-3s than fish ever thought of having....but we don't have a "flaxseed industry" with millions of dollars behind them to get the word out.  Plus, in flaxseed we don't get the added chemicals, mercury, antibiotics, and everything else that's injected into fish before it arrives at the seafood department in the market.  The benefits of flaxseed, besides the omega-3s are fiber, they lower cholesterol, lower triglycerides, prevents constipation, helps with hot flashes, etc, etc, etc.  

I gave my class the option of cutting way back on meat this week, or, for the people that are ready to jump right in, eliminating meat altogether.  For some, this will be a little difficult, for others it may be easier.  Just knowing that meat is responsible for:

• Heart disease, the #1 Killer in America
• Increased risk of cancers
• Increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease
• Increased risk of Parkinson's Disease
• Increased risk of strokes
• Raises cholesterol levels
• Full of saturated fat
• Full of cholesterol
• Full of antibiotics (that have been recently proven to flow through our bloodstream for days after eating meat)
• Full of hormones (causing early onset of puberty in our children--this alone is linked to various cancers)....

And the list goes on an on.  

I can't wait to see the results we get next Wednesday.  Oh, and most people had a baseline cholesterol done prior to starting this program...the people that didn't are having them done soon.  We will be having another cholesterol test at the end of the program to see what strides were made in lowering our cholesterol levels.  

I will be very interested to read everyone's food journals to see just how much meat they eliminated this week.  And remember, they have already eliminated the artificial and processed foods...we are now adding beef, pork, poultry and fish to our list.  

I am extremely PLEASED with the results, as are the participants.  Just "feeling better" is extremely motivating, but when the number of the scale drops, (even though this is about HEALTHY EATING and not numbers), I don't care what your goals are, people are ELATED!  

Because word travels fast, I do have others asking if they can join us....because I absolutely LOVE teaching people about nutrition and how it can CHANGE THEIR LIFE, I cannot say no...I do have new people joining us on Wednesday which will be our third meeting....if you would like to join us, let me know, it's FREE...we will be meeting at my office in Watervliet at 5:30...if possible, come a little earlier to be weighed in...I can bring you up to speed with the previous handouts.  Please let me know in advance so I can arrange for seating. 

If you want these types of results, come join us....I would LOVE to help you get there!!

Many people have no problems with making salads...it's the salad dressing that gives people a problem.  When buying bottled salad dressing, I encourage people not to buy products with more than 5 ingredients, and if there is an ingredient you can't pronounce or don't know what it is, don't buy it.  Many salad dressings are made with high fructose corn syrup, one of the WORST things you can put in your body.  

Making your own dressings are a much healthier choice, and much cheaper. Don't just limit these dressings for salads, pour them over steamed vegetables, stir-frys, baked potatoes, anything you like!  Here are a few of my favorite recipes for dressings:



BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 c unseasoned rice wine vinegar
3-4 cloves garlic
1/4 c ketchup
1 T Dijon mustard
1-2 T agave nectar
1/2 t guar gum (found in health food stores, helps the dressing "stick" to the leaves)

Pour the balsamic, cider, wine, and rice vinegars into a blender.  Add the garlic, ketchup, mustard, 1 T of the agave, and 1 cup of water.  Blend until the mixture is very smooth.  With the blender running, slowly add the guar gum through the top to avoid forming clumps.  Continue to blend until the dressing is smooth and thickened.  Taste and add more agave if needed.  Refrigerate the dressing for at least 2 hours before using.  The dressing will thicken further as it chills.

CREAMY CILANTRO-GARLIC DRESSING
For a really bold taste, include the cilantro stems along with the leaves.  Or, substitute other fresh herbs for cilantro--basil, parsley, or mint.

1 package of silken tofu, drained in a strainer
1/2 c rice wine vinegar
1/4 c reduced-sodium soy sauce
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed or minced
1/2 bunch of cilantro

Combine the tofu, vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic in a blender or food processor and blend or process until smooth.  Add the cilantro and process again until the cilantro is chopped.  Pour the dressing into a jar, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

CAESAR SALAD DRESSING


2 T almond meal (see note)
3 T Dijon mustard
3 T nutritional yeast
3 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
3 T fresh lemon juice
2 T reduced sodium soy sauce

Put the almond meal, mustard, nutritional yeast and garlic into a 12 oz jar.  Stir with a fork to make a paste.  Add the lemon juice, soy sauce, and 1 T water.  Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously to mix.  Pour over your salad.

Note:  Almond meal is made by grinding the nuts until they are almost the texture of flour.  You can buy almond meal at Trader Joe's or other natural food stores.  Bob's Red Mill also carries it.  To make your own, put raw almonds in a food processor and process until very fine, be careful not to make butter.  Using cold nuts helps to prevent this.  Store almond meal in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Yesterday's blog was about keeping meat off our plates...so when we eliminate something, we need to replace it with something else...that something else is BEANS!  Beans are an under appreciated superfood.... they have loads of fiber, (something that is desperately missing in the Standard American Diet), protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  Did you know that small red beans have more antioxidants than blueberries?  Who knew?

Beans have so much fiber in them that it helps keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.  They also help bring down blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and black beans have proven to prevent migraine headaches.  Beans help in weight loss....when we are "dieting" our fat cells release a hormone called leptin...when our body realizes we are not starving it by dieting, it will release leptin into our system which decreases our appetite and speeds up our metabolism resulting in weight loss!  Plant-based, low-fat foods help to keep our leptin levels high--while fatty foods, like animal products, keep our leptin levels low. Beans are only 2-3% fat which means they raise your leptin levels and reduce your appetite while causing your metabolism to work harder and faster.

Beans are loaded with nutrients our body's crave:

B vitamins:  Responsible for healthy nerve and brain cells, for normal functioning of the skin, nerves and digestive system.

Calcium:  For strong bones and teeth, and to keep the body more alkaline rather than acidic.

Potassium:  To help prevent high blood pressure and stroke.

Folate:  A B vitamin that our body doesn't produce yet dry beans are our single best source of this important vitamin which helps prevent against heat disease and cancer.

Beans are dirt cheap!  There is no better bargain in the whole grocery store than beans.  You can buy a bag of beans for a dollar and change--there is nothing that packs a nutritional punch like beans that are so inexpensive.

There is such a variety of beans to choose from:  Chickpea, red beans, cannelii beans, kidney beans, adzuki beans, great northern beans, navy beans, peas, lentils, black beans, pinto beans, mung beans, lima beans, white beans, etc.  The list goes on.  And, beans are so versatile--you can throw them in soups, stews, make burgers with them, make hummus, bean chili, bean salads, dips, beans and greens, beans and pasta, beans and rice, or just eat beans such as chickpeas roasted with some cajun spices for a snack!  The possibilities are endless. 

There are a million recipes out there to try using beans...I'm sure you can find some that you and your family will love. To use the dry beans, just put them in a pot, cover them with 2 inches of water and let soak overnight.  In the morning, drain them, put fresh water over them and cook for about 1 1/2 hours...taste them to make sure they are done....they should be soft but not mushy.

So when you go to the grocery store, pick up a couple bags of different beans to try.  Here is a very simple, quick dish to make that everyone will love:

BEAN SALAD

1 1/2 cups of black beans
1 1/2 cups of red beans
1 1/2 cups of white beans
1 medium chopped red onion
1 tomato
1 cup of frozen corn, rinsed under hot water
Cilantro, minced (optional)
Balsamic vinaigrette 

Mix all ingredients, except cilantro if using, in a bowl.  Pour vinaigrette over salad and combine.  Sprinkle cilantro over the top of the salad when ready to serve.

Trying to transition to eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet just means thinking a little differently.  First, we need to get rid of meat being the "center" of the meal....now, there is no more center.  No more thinking that your plate has little compartments that need to be filled with meat, potatoes and vegetables.  Instead, your plate should be FULL of a variety of plant foods.  Who says you have to cook only one kind of plant food at each meal?  Why not cook two or three or more vegetables for dinner?  Why not have a fruit bowl on the table every night?  It's a whole new way of thinking--but it is very simple.  Here are some tips for making simple, easy adjustments to cut down on animal foods in your diet:

1. Start the day right.  Breakfast is the easiest meal to cut back on meat.  With so many options, no one needs to eat meat for breakfast.  Try steel-cut oats topped with walnuts and fruit, maybe some  raw honey for sweetener.  How about pancakes or waffles with fruit...or a breakfast burrito with beans and veggies.
2. Join the Meatless Monday bandwagon.  No matter what your goal, going meatless one day a week is an easy fix.  There is a website, meatlessmonday.com, which you can get all kinds of recipes from.
3. Shop for plants first.  Don't fall back into the "meat is the center of the plate" mindset.  Instead of planning your menu around what meat you will serve, plan it around what plant foods you will serve.  Just start your shopping in the produce aisle or at the farmer's market.  Pick whatever vegetables are in season, look the freshest and most appealing to you.  For example, if you want to try kale and it looks good. stir-fry it with garlic, herbs and maybe some tofu.  Pile it over quinoa and dinner is ready!
4. Try different supermarkets.  There are ethnic markets everywhere that offer more whole plant foods such as a variety of dried and canned beans and lentils, whole-grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.  
5. Stock a plant-based pantry.  if you have it on hand, you won't be running to the store everyday because you don't have an ingredient.  Plan a menu, make a list and go shopping--once!
6. Keep it simple.  You might think plant-based cooking is very difficult, but it doesn't have to be.  Dinner can be as easy as black bean burritos, vegetarian chili and cornbread, or an avocado and hummus pita sandwich. 
7. Convert your favorite dishes.  Don't forget this simple trick--for an easy dinner, turn your favorite meat-based recipe veggie.  Just skip the meat and add the vegetables.  Pizza for example, use broccoli, cashews, onions and basil.  Lasagna--skip the meat and pile extra servings of veggies between the layers of noodles.
8. Get your slow-cooker out.  Throw in veggies, herbs, a vegetable broth base, canned tomatoes, whole grains or bulgur and dried beans...turn the dial on and when you get home--presto, dinner!
9. Think adding foods, not eliminating.  Don't dwell on what you can't have, think about what you can have!  When you're focused on eating plats, there are hundreds of varieties, flavors and colors waiting for you.  When shopping in the  produce aisle, pick a rainbow of colors that you can pile on your plate.

It doesn't have to be complicated...need help?...Contact me...I will get you started on the road to better health, fast and easy!!

Kale is the "queen of greens"....it is one of the most nutritious foods you can put in your body.  Unfortunately, many people have no idea what kale is, or most people, when asked if they know what kale is will say it's the little green garnish used in restaurants.  Most of the time, it is the most nutritious item on the plate!  

Eating a variety of vegetables everyday will certainly lead to good health, but kale is a powerhouse of nutrition protecting us from all kinds of cancers and helps in lowering cholesterol.  

Kale, also known as borecole, is truly one of the healthiest foods on the planet.  It's a leafy green that's available in curly, ornamental and dinosaur varieties.  Kale is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables which includes cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and collards.  What makes kale so special?  Here's why it is the SUPERSTAR of vegetables:

1. 1 cup of kale has 33 calories, 9% of recommended calcium intake, 206% of Vitamin A, 134% of Vitamin C, and 684% of Vitamin K.
2. It also contains minerals such as copper, potassium maganese, iron and phosphorous.
   
3. Kale is loaded with antioxidants.
4. The fiber content in kale binds bile acids to help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw.

When buying kale, look for deep dark colored leaves with hardy stems.  The smaller size leaves usually have a milder flavor.  The dinosaur variety, which I have a hard time finding, is my FAVORITE...it has a mild almost sweet flavor.  The only place I found it locally is at the Fresh Market in Latham.  The first time I had this variety of kale, I was in a restaurant in Arizona...it was so good I had to ask the chef what variety of kale he used because it was like nothing I had ever tasted!

Quick cooking preserves kale's nutrients, texture, color and flavor. Rinse kale well, pull the leaves off the stem and chop it finely to throw in soups, stews, salads, stir-frys or pasta dishes.  Steam kale for about 5 minutes to make it more tender. Other fast ways to prepare kale:

• Make a simple salad with finely chopped kale, red pepper, onion and raisins with your favorite salad dressing
• Braise chopped kale and apples, top with walnuts and drizzle balsamic vinegar over it
• Toss kale in whole-wheat pasta along with lots of other vegetables and a ladle of marinara sauce
• Saute onions and garlic (in a small amount of water), add kale, mushrooms and your favorite flavored vinegar

So the next time you are grocery shopping, make sure you toss a bundle of kale into your cart.  It really is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can find, not only in the market, but on the planet!

Today is a new day, a new beginning, a new start.  It doesn't matter what happened yesterday, and it doesn't matter what's happening tomorrow--what matters is what you will do with today!  There's no better time than right now to start eating healthy--not tomorrow, TODAY. 

Let's start with breakfast...there's steel cut oats topped with fruit...there's a big green smoothie...there's plain shredded wheat topped with fruit and  Almond milk...or, if you just don't have time to even have a bowl of oatmeal or cereal, grab a couple pieces of fruit and go.

When lunch rolls around, (I'm assuming you didn't pack a healthy lunch), get a big green salad with lots of vegetables,  Ask for the dressing on the side and choose the healthiest version available.  For dinner, saute some onion and garlic in a small amount of water, and add whatever vegetables you have on hand--fresh or frozen, it doesn't matter.  No marinara sauce on hand?  Add a can of crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes...add your favorite spices like oregano, Italian seasoning, basil, salt and pepper...throw in some beans, any kind, and dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes.  Want dessert?  Cut up an apple into slices, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle a little raw honey over them....microwave for a minute or two....YUM!

It doesn't take rocket science, you can do this.  Now, if you had planned the week of meals ahead of time, it would be even easier--all the ingredients you need would be ready to go, (including what you were bringing for lunch so you didn't have to order out).  Make a big pot of soup....there's a few lunches....make a batch of beans to be used on salads, in a stir-fry. or throw them in soups for added protein.  Prepare brown rice or another whole grain that can be used during the week for meals.  Once the prep work is done, it's a snap preparing meals.  

Here's a really quick recipe from the cookbook, Everyday Happy Herbivore, by Lindsay Nixon.  She made this recipe up in a hotel room using ingredients from the breakfast bar.

QUICK BURGERS


1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 T ketchup
1 T mustard
1 tsp onion powder
1 t garlic powder
1/3 c quick oats

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a mixing bowl, mash black beans with a fork until mostly pureed but with some half beans and bean parts left.
4. Stir in condiments and spices until well combined, then mix in oats.
5. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into thin patties.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, carefully flip over and bake for another 5 minutes, or until crusty on the outside.
7. Serve on a whole wheat bun with whatever toppings you like and eat!

When I run into people I haven't seen for a while, one of the first questions they ask me is how I keep my weight down.  For anyone that does not know me, I have had weight issues my entire life...I was one of those yo-yo dieters....up 50 pounds, down 50 pounds...knew about every diet out there because I tried everyone.  "Diets" don't work....lifestyle changes do.  It's plain and simple.  

I came to this realization about 5 years ago when I started educating myself on diets and nutrition trying to figure out WHY cancer and heart disease, (along with every other disease state) were at epidemic proportions.  Why are we so much sicker now?  We have modern medicine...how can this be? 

Well, modern medicine is part of the problem.  Doctors want to prescribe pills for whatever "ails" you...it doesn't matter what your SYMPTOMS are, there is a pill to "mask" it.  Modern medicine has it backwards....we don't need any more band ads, we need to STOP the bleeding.  What's making us sick?

After doing so much research I finally found the answer, it's all the toxins that get into our body by what we put into our mouths.  The food we choose can either heal us or harm us--it really is that SIMPLE. After researching hundreds of studies, articles, journals, and following basically four nutritional experts from Harvard, Berkeley, the Cleveland Clinic and Cornell, I became certified in a Whole Food Plant Based diet through Cornell.  It was the BEST thing I ever did so far!  After becoming certified, I now teach people what I know...some people embrace this lifestyle, try it and can't believe the results....just from eating the RIGHT foods.  Others are skeptical, and that's fine...they just cannot imagine life without meat or dairy.  However, if these skeptics become sick or are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, they usually come to me for advice....and of course I am extremely happy to help them....I just wish it didn't take an illness to at least convince them to try this way of eating.  

Many people just don't know where to start or they feel very overwhelmed with 'how" to start something like a Whole Food Plant Based diet....IT IS SIMPLE.  Here are 8 tips to get you started:

1. Salad.  Eat salad FIRST with lunch and dinner.  People have a tendency to eat more of whatever you eat first because you are hungry.  You can't overeat vegetables...successful, long-term weight control and health are linked to your consumption of vegetables--they are the healthiest foods in the world.  (Personally, I probably eat a head of Romaine lettuce a day between lunch and dinner).
2. Fruits.  Eat at least four fruits a day.  Have a piece of fruit with breakfast, have another for a mid-morning snack, have one after lunch and another after dinner.  
3. Variety is the spice of life.  Eat a variety of vegetables, whole-grains, fruits and beans.  Again, you cannot eat too many vegetables.  Eat them raw in your salads, eat them cooked--throw onions and garlic in a pan, (sauteed with tiny amounts of water), add any vegetables you want--broccoli, squash, cauliflower, mushrooms, greens--anything you have--with some stewed tomatoes or marinara sauce...done.  Eat as much as your heart desires....no counting calories, fats, carbs, blah, blah, blah....just eat!
4. Beans or legumes.  Beans are a person's best friend.  They are a powerhouse of superior nutrition---they reduce cholesterol and blood sugar, they stop food cravings, they are digested slowly, and they are full of protein and fiber. Throw a cup of beans on your salad, throw them in soup or your stir-fries.  
5. Eliminate animal products.  Yes, this means dairy too!  Animal products make our bodies very acidic, (perfect environment for cancer cells to thrive), come packaged with saturated fat and cholesterol, and the main protein in dairy is called casein---casein FEEDS cancer cells.
6. Have a tablespoon or two of ground flaxseeds.  Flaxseeds will give you omega-3 fats that protect against diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  Also, omega-3s can be found in walnuts and edamame, (green soy beans).
7. Eat 1 oz of nuts and seeds a day.  Walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and other nuts and seeds offer disease protection against heart attack, stroke, cancers and help lower cholesterol.  Throw some on your salads, make salad dressings, and dips with nuts.....this is the only food group on a WFPB diet that I ask people to limit...nuts do have "good" fats in them, but if you are trying to watch your weight, you have to limit the amount.
8. Mushrooms.  Mushrooms make a great meat replacement!  Throw them in salads, saute them with greens, put them in soups, roast them with other vegetables in the oven....they are loaded with phytochemicals which fight chronic diseases, especially cancer.  Who knew?

Keep this simple....it doesn't have to be complicated.  It does take some planning and grocery shopping, but so does any other way of eating.  You have to buy the food in the grocery store, it's just a matter of replacing meat and dairy for vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains.  Once you are eating this way for a short period of time, you will FEEL the difference...actually FEEL the difference.  Your weight will go down and your energy will soar, not to mention all the nourishment you are giving your body on the inside to work its magic!

Let me repeat myself...When you give your body what it needs, it will HEAL itself!

I have news for you, just because we are aging DOESN'T mean that we are going to have some kind of medical condition or sickness.  I find myself asking how we got in the mess that we are in...how did obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and all other kinds of chronic diseases become the "norm"?  For some reason, we all just ACCEPT these diseases as part of the aging process.  I DO NOT!!

I believe the whole "mess" started very early on in our lives.  From early childhood, we were taught that we MUST eat meat and dairy for strong muscles and bones...if we didn't eat this way we wouldn't grow up to be big and strong.  This was part of the American culture...this is the story we have been told over and over and over again.  Of course, we all believe this to be true and never questioned it....until now.

Let's back up 70 years ago when many people couldn't afford meat and relied on foods such as potatoes, rice, beans, whole grains, and vegetables...guess what, we were SO much healthier.....heart disease and cancers only "happened" in a very few people...we didn't have a quarter of the sickness and disease states we have today.  How can this be??  Meat and dairy are superior foods...they give us high quality protein and calcium, just what we need for healthy bodies.  This is the biggest MYTH we have ever been led to believe!  What we  weren't taught was, along with an excess of protein, (which is extremely harmful to our body), we get all that saturated fat and cholesterol from animal products.  And today, we even get "more for our money"....we get an abundance of hormones, toxic chemicals and a barrage of antibiotics from these animals we choose to eat.  

People will now say that they eat organic meat....so that can't be bad.  It's true that they won't be getting all the hormones, toxic chemicals and antibiotics from their meat, BUT, they will still get all that excess protein, saturated fat and cholesterol....organic meat doesn't equate to "healthy meat".  

You don't need to eat foods from animals to have enough protein in your diet.  Plant proteins alone will provide enough of the essential and non-essential amino acids, as long as you are eating enough enough calories.  Whole grains, vegetables beans, seeds and nuts all contain both essential and non-essential amino acids.  At last, the American Heart Association has accepted the scientifically proven conclusion that plant foods do, indeed, contain all the amino acids we need to thrive.

Unfortunately, the people we trust to educate our children and form our public policies are ignorant about basic nutritional needs.  The result is disastrous--MILLIONS of Americans are suffering from diet-related diseases, including 18 million people with coronary heart disease, 25.8 million with type 2 diabetes, 400,000 with MS, millions with inflammatory arthritis, and we haven't even touched on cancer rates.  We are sicker and fatter now than ever before--what we are doing is NOT WORKING.

To add to this problem is the fact that physicians are not educated on nutrition.  Like all the rest of us, ingrained in their brain is the same myth---you must include meat and dairy in order to have a healthy diet.  There is so much scientific evidence proving the exact opposite---information from extremely reputable institutions--Harvard, The Cleveland Clinic, Berkeley and Cornell just to name a few.  This is solid evidence based on thousands of people participating in studies---the end result was always the same---the HEALTHIEST diet proven to prevent disease, stop existing disease and many times reverse disease is:  A WHOLE FOOD PLANT BASED DIET.

Don't know where to start?  Contact me...I would love to get you on the path to superior health!

Three quarters of the illnesses that people suffer from in this country are chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and arthritis.  This is the result of a diet dominated by meat, dairy, fat and processed foods.  Understanding the problem points to a simple solution--replace these body-harming foods with healthy vegetables, fruits, beans and whole-grains, and we can get rid of disease!

We can actually HEAL ourselves by eating a WFPB diet that's loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals (found only in plants). Unlike the foods that are making us sick, a WFPB diet contains no significant amounts of dangerous cholesterol, saturated or trans fats, animal proteins, acid, chemical toxins (hormones and antibiotics to name 2), or disease-causing microbes.  

If your health is deteriorating, do no just assume that your body is failing you.  Its efforts to heal NEVER stop, not even for one second.  However, by the time most people end up going to the doctor, they have tens of thousands of repeated injuries to their arteries, joints and tissues all because of what they eat.  For disease to progress, injury must outpace healing.  

For healing to occur, the opposite must happen--healing must outpace injury.  Understand, however, that if you continue injuring your body for too long, the disease causing forces will eventually do irreversible damage.  Your body will no longer be able to work its magic completely.  Fortunately, most people are not in that much trouble.  There is still hope--the solution is in your hands.  If you want to reverse your body's disease processes, all you need to do is stop the damage.  This means changing to a health-supporting WFPB diet.  That means removing the "poisons"--animal protein, fat, cholesterol, dietary acids and processed foods, and replace the poisons with vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains.  A WFPB diet will nourish your body with EVERYTHING it needs to give you superior health.

Unhealthy eating habits, along with smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and taking drugs have been known to be at the root of many health issues.  The challenge is recognizing these lifelong habits as the source of repeated injury and putting a stop to them.  Change can be difficult for many people, but understanding what's making us so sick can make the change easier.  It all begins with a simple truth--diet CAN prevent disease, supports the body's healing mechanisms AND promotes weight loss when following a WFPB diet.  A giant step toward health and healing is yours for the taking.  You can expect BIG results after making these big changes to a WFPB diet.

You will not be disappointed with your body's abilities to heal...you just need to give it a fighting chance....