I come from a long line of unhealthy family members on my fathers side. And you guessed it I have those genes. Let me go through the list of what I know. My dad had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, he had a stint put in his heart in his 50's had a stroke at the age of 62 and died at 70 of a sudden heart attack. My grandfather had a heart attack at age 53 and died from a heart attack at age 55. His mother my great-grand mother had diabetes and died I think late 50's early 60's. Her mother died young also, but I'm not sure what from.
My cholesterol started to rise in my late 20's and by the time I was in my 30's I was on medication. So almost twenty years of medication. Around 45 my blood pressure was high enough for medication also.
I had always thought in the back of my mind I will most likely have diabetes too.
But that all changed one day in February 2012. I watch the documentary Fork Over Knives on Netflix. It is about a large study on animal proteins and their connection to heart disease and cancers.
http://www.forksoverknives.com/about/synopsis/ And how a plant based whole food (vegan) diet can prevent and in some cases reverse these diseases. It was so good. I had hubby watch and he wanted to try it for 90 days (his blood pressure was high also and he was on meds too.) I only wanted to try for 60 days...lol
So we were off. Out went the meat, dairy, eggs, and all the processed foods. In came the almond milk, beans, brown rice, quinoa, fruit and veggies! In the first month we both felt better and we both had our blood pressure going back to normal . In fact I was still on medication and mine got so low I was dizzy. So my doctor told me to stop taking the pills! We had both lost weight and we were on our way to a new way of eating. the 90 days were now past and we were not going back. We were excited to see how our health would change and what new things we could eat.
I'll admit I was pretty excited about my blood pressure going back to normal in weeks of changing my eating and who wouldn't be with the list of disease I could be facing. I felt it was the magic pill we are always looking for.
I don't miss meat at all! Hamburgers and cheese was my food of choice, but now I'd much rather have a big bowl of brown rice with black beans, onion and peppers sauteed with maybe some guacamole.
I'm not going to lie, we don't always stick to it. It is hard if you eat out to find food that doesn't have animal products in them. Everything has meat or dairy. Did you know even McDonald's french fries has beef in them, Yup they add it so they tastes better! Who knew. I never eat meat, but I do have an egg or some cheese once in a while. :( I always feel crappy after with stomach issues.
What we didn't expect from this new way of eating was the hostility, rudeness and strangers questioning us about our food choices. I'm not sure why someone would get so worked up about how I eat and me telling them the results. I only want to share my experiences. Not change anyone. (at some point I might tell about a few of these encounters)
My cholesterol is still high, my body just makes to much. But I'm not worried I rarely eat anything with cholesterol in it. (cholesterol only comes from animals). My blood pressure is perfect and my blood sugars are great. I am no longer afraid of diabetes or the other health problems my dad had. I love this way of eating, it is simple and cheaper and I have so much fun looking for new things to cook. And I really love vegetables now!
I made a list in my journal this morning of things I want for myself this next year in my life. Things like kinder, friendlier, healthier and fit. A better daughter, mother and wife. A good grandma to my unborn grand-baby. But most of all is to be closer to God, and closer to his people. And to bring people closer to Him.
