I have had a very stressful couple of years! The result is I eat badly - I crave unhealthy carbs, meat, salt in excess- the typical addicts response. Yet even with my out of control eating I still looked like I am eating more healthily than most people. But appearances can be deceptive.
While I have kept to an 80% vegan gluten-free lifestyle it is the 20% that messed me up. The occasional gluten, fat & sugar filled muffin, a big handful of roasted salted nuts or some fries once a week, the once in a rare occasion steak or a bit of salmon cos the menu is not vegan friendly have exerted their toll. To all those who say
"a little of what you fancy won't hurt you"
I am here to say that is the lie that kills you.
My little fancies have resulted in a diagnosis of pre-diabetes, a gain of 20 lbs after loosing 45 lbs after the heart attack, a bit of a rise in my cholesterol & being sick for about six weeks with flu/viral symptoms that would not clear.
So I got mad! Then I got miserable....
Then I decided to get out the books that saved my life before (no not the Bible this time) To remind me of the why & how to get back on track I re-read Dr.Neal Barnard's "Reversing Diabetes", Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's "Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease; Dr, Dean Ornish's "Program for Reversing Heart Disease. At the same time I went back on a strict vegan whole food eating plan cut added oil from my diet and began adding squeezed lemon to my water again.
Between Jan 1 and today I have lost just over 14 lbs.
I borrowed a glucose monitor from my dear friend Gwen & have become OCD at taking readings. The good news is that my fasting glucose is down from around 9 to an average of 7.4 since Jan 26 when I started & my after food level is never more than 10 - the highest point for a healthy 60+ year old & it's usually between 6.4 - 8.0. All this in only a matter of weeks!
The eating plan is easy!
The food is delicious!
The results are astounding!
Why are our doctors, dietitians & health gurus not proclaiming it from the hill tops?
I know there are lots of reasons, many of which are highlighted in the books I just mentioned and in books like the China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell or the Campbell Plan by his son Dr,Thomas Campbell; but the one I keep coming across in Alberta is our deep seated belief that meat & dairy are essential or we won't get enough protein.
The fact is we need only 12.5 grams of protein per 500 calories of food to meet all our needs. Whole plant food provides 29 grams which is an optimal level as plants have loads of fiber, no cholesterol & just the right balance of essential fats to keep us healthy, slim and feeling good. Meat & dairy provides 51 grams & in this case more is not better for the combination of fat, cholesterol, no fiber & excessive hard to digest protein in even the leanest meat & lowest fat dairy are shown to be major causes or contributors to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. They also contain substances that are addictive to our brain & our gut; so the thought of giving them up can bring on some strong emotional response. The fact is that if you go full out on a whole plant - no added oil way of eating for 3 weeks you feel so much more alive that the initial learning curve is worth it.
I am not saying you won't be tempted to go back.... I know I am, but only when my life gets so stressful I want to check out for a while. The stupid thing is that is exactly when a whole plant-food diet is essential; the substances in say whole oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut), barley, brown rice, whole grain pasta or even a baked potato etc bring on a sense of comfort and release chemicals in our brain to reduce stress, give energy and make us feel good. The fruits and veg bring our body & mind back into balance - it is healthy self-medicating! Add some exercise & the stress begins to melt.
Thanks for reading.
Debbie
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