Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Tell us about yourself and the events that led up to making the commitment to get your health back.

My name is Carol and I’m almost 59-years-old; mother to five, and grandmother to three.  I had been a yo-yo dieter for most of my adult life.  I would lose 30 lbs and then soon after gain more back.  Food was always a comfort and escape for me.  I didn’t need to be hungry to eat as long as the food was tasty.

Last summer I had reached a point where being on my feet for more than an hour meant lots of pain and discomfort for the rest of the day and into the next.  My skin felt bruised when touched.  I had to plan activities around how much walking was involved, and I was becoming more and more homebound.

How did you learn about nutritarian eating? 

Emily Boller lives in my hometown and I was inspired by her transformation; however, I thought nutritarian eating would be too hard for me.  In July, I read Eat to Live and believed it was the answer to my health problems.  I finally got desperate enough to attend a library talk that Emily facilitated, which motivated me to make the commitment to change.  Soon afterwards I joined the member center of drfuhrman.com and read Eat for Health.  That book set taught me more valuable information about reversing disease through excellent nutrition and being in control of my health destiny. 

The rest is history . . . .   on July 22, 2009 I weighed 345 lbs and my waist was 55”.  Now, less than four months later, November 15, 2009, I weigh 268 lbs with a 48”waist.  That’s a loss of 77 lbs so far!

How do you feel now?

First of all, the weight is coming off easily!  I feel better now than I have in years.  Being on my feet is no longer a problem, and it doesn’t hurt to be touched anymore.  I sleep better and have lots more energy.

Food always meant comfort to me.  Whether I was hungry or not, I’d eat a lot. Now I eat only when hungry, and I’ve discovered how enjoyable natural foods can taste.  I enjoy life again because food no longer controls me.    

Success tips you’d like to share with others in the journey to health?

• I purchase bags of dried beans and make a large pot of bean or vegetable soup on the weekend to last the next week.
• I buy lots of frozen vegetables and fruits to have on hand.
• I make smoothies and great tasting salads. 
• I don’t let eating away from home worry me like it used to when I was yo-yo dieting. I make wise choices; no longer feeling defeated like I did for years.

Is there a final thought that you would like to share with anyone who is discouraged or has given up hope?

 Just do it! 

Start however you can. It may sound overwhelming at the beginning, but in all reality, nutritarian eating is the easiest way to lose weight and feel great at the same time. It will change your life!

Congratulations Carol!  We are cheering for you as you continue on the journey of getting your health back! 

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I took the above picture as I was preparing our Thanksgiving noon meal today.  I bought the Pilgrim statues years ago at a garage sale.  Arranged with candles, artificial leaves, squash and apples, it makes one of my favorite holiday centerpieces.  My immediate family (minus my oldest daughter who lives out east and will be home for Christmas) will be gathering with my extended family later this evening at my Aunt’s house to catch up on the happenings of everyone.

I started a new Thanksgiving tradition for myself early this morning.  I ran a 4 mile run, appropriately named the “Galloping Gobbler”, with my oldest son.  Three of my children, at various times, have run in this race for several Thanksgivings now, and it has been my goal for a long time to be able to join them someday. 

Well, today was that someday.

Words are inadequate to express how wonderful it feels to have health back. 

It was a tough course with hills that I hadn’t trained for, but wanted to give it a shot anyway.  As I was approaching the finish line, and the bystanders were cheering, it felt so good to be able to stretch out my legs and run.  Two years ago, when I was obese, I couldn’t even jog to catch a fly away ball in our backyard. 

If you are sitting on the fence of indecision, I encourage you to give nutritarian eating your all. 

To be free from food addiction and get health back is something you will never regret.

Ever.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  

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Hot and Healthy Apple Crisp

The following recipe is from the Member Center of www.drfuhrman.com   A member commented that this crisp smells wonderful while baking in the oven.  Enjoy!

(Preheat oven to 350 degrees.)

8 apples, peeled and sliced

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup date sugar

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup raisins

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup Goji berries, soaked (optional)

Sprinkle apples with lemon juice & toss.  Mix rest of ingredients together then combine with apples and mix thoroughly.  Pour into an 8" X 11" baking dish and bake for 45 minutes.  Makes 8 servings.

Note:  If using Goji berries make sure to soak them for an hour ahead of time in just enough water to cover.  Drain before adding the berries to the mixture.  The Goji berries not only add color to this crisp but, more importantly, they add a nutritional antioxidant boost!

Sweet Potato Pie 

The following recipe is from Dr. Fuhrman’s Healthy Times Newsletter; Issue 3, November 2002.  The pineapple gives it a delightful Hawaiian twist.  Happy and healthy Thanksgiving baking!  

(Preheat oven to 350 degrees.)

4-6 sweet potatoes (organic are sweeter)

1 1/2 cups orange juice

Canned sliced pineapple (unsweetened)

Bake sweet potatoes at 400 degrees for 90 minutes or until soft.  Let cool.  Peel off skin and mash in a food processor or Vita Mix with sufficient orange juice to reach desired consistency.  Spread mixture into a pan.  Cover with pineapple slices.

Bake for 1/2 hour.

Makes 4 servings.

image credits:  google.com

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Soon we’ll be facing holiday traditions that are based upon feasting: turkey, dressing, gravy, candied yams, yeast rolls, butter, jam, pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, cranberry sauce, glazed ham, eggnog, cheese balls, crackers, cookies, candy, fruit cakes, nut breads, fudge, confectionary treats, peppermint ice cream, pancakes, waffles, sausages, bacon; just to name a few.

As a culture, I think its time we seriously evaluate our traditions. 

If a tradition abuses the body, why participate in it?

If a tradition promotes disease, why do it?

                                                                  image credit:  google.com

 morals: 

• accepted rules and standards of human behavior (Wikipedia)
• pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong (Dictionary.com)

 As a nation, perhaps it’s time we raise our morals and stop abuse. 

Will you be promoting food abuse this holiday season; or stopping it?

Let's dialogue.  What are your plans to eat for health during the holidays?

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         Flickr  image credit:   Manky M.  

Are you currently engulfed in the sea of pleasing everyone but yourself?

Do you help your children and/or others reach their fullest potential, but neglect your own goals?

Are you afraid to “rock the boat” and say, “No” to others to the extent that you don’t take care of yourself?

Would you like to eat healthier, but are afraid of hurting someone’s feelings by rejecting their food?  Are you going along with the crowd at the expense of killing yourself? 

A people pleaser is concerned with the expectations of others and trying to fit in, even if it means compromising personal goals to do so.  Pleasing everyone is emotional dysfunction, and is usually on the side of evil, not goodness.  Trying to please others, even if what they are promoting is hurtful, is a deadly snare.  Gang members can torture and kill people trying to please their peer group.     

Don’t meet the expectations and demands of others if they are unrealistic and disease promoting.  Love means having the best affect on others, not acting in a way to be viewed more favorably.  The latter is weakness and self-love.     

If you are a habitual people pleaser it will take courage to change the dysfunction.  Saying no without feeling guilty can be difficult, but for optimal health, you must change damaging behaviors.

Standing up for yourself and doing what is right, not necessarily what is popular or what is promoted by your peers is the best gift that you can give to others!

Let’s dialogue.  In what practical way(s) do you need to change to be emotionally and physically healthy?  (Feel free to use a nickname if you wish to remain anonymous.)  

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image credit: Emily Boller

• In my town lentils cost 92 cents/lb.  Combined with no-salt tomato puree, garlic, onions and spices, an entire pot of lentil stew can be made for a fraction of the cost of spaghetti and meatballs, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, or beef and noodles.
• Ripe bananas can be purchased for 29 cents/lb.  They can be frozen and made into delicious and healthful ice cream desserts.  I make ice cream for my family for less than ten dollars a month.  Compare that to two quarts of high fat, high sugar, chemical laden ice cream that lasts a family a couple of days (or one stress-relief binge!)  
  
  
   
• At monthly sales I stock up on bags of frozen vegetables: 10 bags for $10.  Compare that to two bags of frozen fries for ten bucks. 
• A pound of romaine lettuce is cheaper than a pound of shredded cheese.
• A large bag of fresh carrots costs the same as a bag of chips.
• A bag of oranges is comparable in cost to a package of disease promoting cookies.
• Oatmeal is a fraction of the price of processed cereal. 
• Gardening saves even more on bountiful supplies of high nutrient foods.

Add the astronomical costs of doctor visits, insurance co-pays, hospitalizations, missed work, and popular medications used to manage cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes: Prinivil, Zocor, Lipitor, Atenolol and Metformin . . . . . eating for health costs more than eating for disease? 

Don’t believe the lie.

As the old adage goes, “Pay the grocer or pay the doctor.”

I’d rather pay food bills any day!   

Do you have a money saving tip that supports eating for health?  If so, we’d love to hear from you!

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Here in the United States we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in less than three weeks.  I thought it would be fun to share a recipe for pumpkin pie from the vast selection of nutritarian recipes that are posted on the members’ center of www.DrFuhrman.com  Enjoy!   

Serves 8

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

OAT PIE CRUST

1 cup quick oats (not instant)

1/4 cup ground almonds

1 tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour (optional)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons water

PIE FILLING

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin

1/2 cup date sugar*

1/2 cup raisins

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot powder

1 10-ounce pkg soft tofu

CASHEW CREAM

1 1/3 cups raw cashews

3/4 cup vanilla soy milk

2/3 cup dates

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Pie Crust:  Mix oats, almonds and flour.  Blend oil and water together with a wire whisk. Add to dry ingredients and mix until it holds together.  You may need to add a little more water.  Spray 9-inch pie dish lightly with cooking spray and press the crust to thinly cover the bottom and sides of the pie dish.

Pie Filling:  In a blender combine the pumpkin and date sugar.*  Add raisins, spices, arrowroot powder, and tofu.  (Some like more spices; individual preference.)  Blend until smooth.  Pour mixture into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes then lower heat to 350 degrees.  Cover crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning, and bake for an additional 60 minutes.

While pie is in the oven make the Cashew Cream.  Blend all ingredients together in a Vita-Mix or other powerful blender.

Serve slightly warm or cold with a dollop of Cashew Cream.

Note:  The pie filling will firm up as it cools. 

 * A member commented that she used dates in the pie filling instead of date sugar and liked it better.  She baked the pie for 75 minutes at 350 degrees; 15 of those minutes with the crust uncovered, and 60 minutes with the crust covered.  (Tip:  Cover crust by using a square of aluminum foil with a large hole cut out in the middle, leaving most of the pie uncovered.)  According to her, the texture and appearance came out great! 

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What would life be like

if we had no courage to attempt anything?

-Vincent van Gogh

Someone recently wrote on my facebook wall, “When you started (referring to nutritarian eating), what was most helpful?”

I began the journey to get my health back on July 10, 2008.  At that time, what helped me the most was taking the prior month of June to thoroughly study and assimilate Dr. Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live.  (Eat for Health was not available yet.)  

Now, fifteen months and plenty of battle scars later; plus observing many who have successfully overcome food addiction and made it to their weight loss goal and restored good health, my resounding response to everyone is, “Members’ center, members’ center, members’ center!”

I got free from food addiction and have successfully maintained excellent health because of the ongoing support of Dr. Fuhrman on “Ask the Doctor”.  The hurdles of life have been overwhelming at times, and Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritional and health guidance has helped me navigate the many obstacles that I’ve faced:

• advice during the hospitalization of a child
• guidance in overcoming food addiction, including several relapses
• practical instruction during a weight loss plateau
• advice concerning a major surgery
• navigating pain relief, bloating and continual weight loss after that surgery
• pain management after a serious bike wreck
• and a myriad of other bumps in the road

He gave straightforward and helpful answers that I couldn’t have received elsewhere.

Now I encourage everyone who is serious about living in optimal health to get involved in the members’ center of drfuhrman.com:

• read the tutorials
• listen to the teleconferences
• participate in the member forums, phone chats and Ask the Doctor
• share recipes, success tips, struggles and victories with other members

Dr. Fuhrman’s books and the members’ center are so much cheaper than medications, diabetic supplies, surgeries, frequent visits to doctors’ offices, rise in insurance premiums, weight loss meetings, and missed work due to illness. The investment will maximize and extend the quality and productivity of life for years to come!     

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