Week 20: Hip hip hooray, there's hope in each day ☀️
No matter the diagnosis, read on for a dose of reality and empowerment.
I got this gift for my birthday years ago and when I read the card my heart filled with so much gratitude, I burst into tears!
I was overwhelmed by my friend Alison’s words and how she saved her Dad’s life.
“He wasn't feeling well, went to the cardiologist, and they ran a series of tests on his heart. They discovered his Ejection Fraction (a measurement of how much blood the left ventricle -- your heart's main pumping chamber -- pumps out with each contraction) was at 10%. A normal ejection fraction is 50-75%.
They predicted that he would need a heart transplant in the near future because there was little they could do to increase that number. People with low ejection fractions like this have a 20% chance of living more than 5 years. 😵💫
His cardiologist assigned him to a heart failure specialist/team. After he went plant based, his ejection fraction increased to 30%. 😮
Six years later, his heart failure specialist booted him out of her patient roster because he is doing so well and no longer fits the criteria for being one of her patients. 😂🙏🏼”
I had referred Alison to Caldwell Esselstyn, MD who specializes in heart disease and more importantly, reverses it.
She purchased his book, read it overnight, and the next morning told her Dad about his new diet.
She saved his life.
Her Dad is such a badass, I love his love for his family - he was open to new information and possibilities, made the necessary changes to his diet, and did the work.
🌱 T Colin Campbell’s 8 Principles of Food and Health
PRINCIPLE #6:
“The same nutrition that prevents disease in its early stages (before diagnosis) can also halt or reverse disease in its later stages (after diagnosis).”
The same whole plants - and all the magnificent trillions of chemical reactions that take place when we eat them - that set the path for a strong, well-functioning body and brain are the exact same medicine that can heal us when we need it.
When the diagnosis is serious, why not hit the pause button on some of our favorite yet dangerous foods.
These rich foods slow our blood flow and harden our arteries. If you’ve ever had chest pains 🙋♀️ (atherosclerosis), that’s what that is - stiff arteries.
Whole plant foods allow blood to flow freely. We need our blood to carry nutrients (from the food we eat) and distribute them to all corners of our bodies.
Committing to “pause” on some of our favorite comfort foods can be hard, yes. It’s also possible and many parts of it are easy. Not to mention extremely pleasurable too! You just can’t beat the feeling of your body working well - the way it’s designed to feel and function.
The most important thing is to go easy on ourselves and do our best. No one can ask anything more from us.
Chronic disease happens over long periods of time, typically decades (great news). When we go all in and eat whole plants, our bodies can heal extremely severe health states (even greater news). The human body never stops healing so therefore, it’s never too late.
It’s all about the rituals we set and practice over and over - this will ensure we regularly eat well.
I’m not saying perfectly eat well - regularly and habitually eat well.
✨ Weekly High
Taking an afternoon off to swim with Elle and my mother in law, Joyce, listening to her stories of her family, Thanksgiving dinners together dining outside on a huge long table, and staying up all night giggling with her cousins!
😵💫 Low
I’ve been sitting with some humiliation and disappointment this week. It took a close and honest sounding board (Cryder) to make me finally realize that the value and respect I bring to a relationship isn’t reciprocated.
Time to make some tough, yet growth-minded, changes.
✨ Lesson
Choose yourself.
🫀 Week 20: Healthy heart
I’m in love with this week’s menu!
Mostly since I can’t seem to get enough of at least one of the meals in each section…
…like fresh toasted bread with generous Vegenaise, fresh tomato and sprouts, and salt. Or, I’ll copy Elle’s breakfast because it always smells so good:
…or lunch with deliciously seasoned rice, sauteed broccolini, and Elle’s new favorite thing, mild chili oil like this one. It’s not spicy at all but sure looks it. I’ll trade the crack ingredients in it for the amount of whole plants she’s getting. I just love that she’ll eat practically anything with it - success!
…HiNote’s Cheezio Pepe which was on point and Elle loved it! I’m going to recreate it using fresh garlic, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, poppy seeds, roasted and crushed sesame seeds, lots of black pepper, some white pepper, and salt. I’ll also experiment with that same crack mixture plus blend a sauce with a handful of cashews, water, and some cooked cauliflower.
…and the star of the week, these incredible cold Korean noodles - Nengmyeon - inspired, taught, and made with love during our recent Toronto trip by my friend, Jin:
Saturday tasks: get some sunshine, hit a farmer’s market and grocery store, enjoy breakfast outside with an iced latte.
Sunday: cooking therapy and hopefully hang in my pj’s all day long.
Have a restful and heart-filled weekend!
✌️💓