Ever felt confused about all of the conflicting health info out there? You’re not alone!
For more than a decade before we began experimenting with plant-based eating, I considered myself fairly well-educated when it came to making healthy food choices. I loved to learn about how to be healthy, and spent a lot of time researching what might help my husband’s gut issues. The plant-based approach seemed to turn so much of what I’d learned upside down, so I was super cautious in the beginning.
But the more I dug in, the more I realized that unbiased research overwhelmingly supported the emphasis of whole plant foods in our diet. It is absolutely amazing to me how there are people finding relief from everything from lupus to pms, and curing cancer, heart disease and diabetes with a whole-foods, plant-based diet.
The great news is that even small changes can begin to bring small results. So even if you’re like I was and not sure you’re ready to be all in on the plant-based approach, this information can be life-changing.
I have been really impressed with these individuals, their stories and their missions to help alleviate suffering. They are great places to start if you or a loved one are suffering in these areas or just if you’re looking for accurate information that isn’t biased by the media or big industries.
All of these have a wealth of free information on their websites, social media accounts, podcasts in addition to books you can find at your local library.
Dr. Michael Greger, NutritionFacts.org
Dr. Greger has dedicated his life to making research regarding food easily accessible through his website and other outlets. He takes hard to understand research findings and turns them into brief, straightforward, yet fun videos.
He doesn’t accept any sponsorships, and donates the proceeds of his books and speaking tours to charity. He is unbiased and tops my list of trusted places to turn for accurate health information. He’s also written some fantastic books, including How Not to Die, How Not to Diet (a phenomenal collection of research, about the most effective ways to lose weight), and most recently, How to Survive a Pandemic.
Chris Beat Cancer
Chris Wark was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at 26. He had surgery to remove the tumor, but then decided to bypass chemo and instead eat as well as he possibly could along with other natural treatments. He’s since dedicated his life to sharing everyday things we can do to prevent and reverse cancer.
He was my go-to resource for information when my dad had cancer, and periodically makes his course available for free. He is always learning and isn’t afraid to update his recommendations based on the most recent research. He has a lengthy list of interviews he’s done with cancer survivors and researchers and provides so many free resources, including Free Cancer Therapies as well as Questions for your Oncologist.
Autoimmune Solutions with Brooke Goldner of GoodbyeLupus.com
For those suffering with autoimmune disease, Dr. Goldner has a rapid recovery approach that she also shares for free several times a year. She was diagnosed with lupus as a teenager and was near death more than once. But she became well-enough to go to medical school and meet her future husband, who inadvertently cured her lupus by creating a nutrition-packed diet to help her slim down for their wedding.
When her lab results came back normal again and again, they realized they had stumbled upon something powerful and tested the process. Now she has an approach that has brought healing and relief to many people suffering from a wide array of autoimmune and other diseases.
John and Ocean Robbins, the Food Revolution Network
The Food Revolution Network and their yearly summit is one of my most favorite places to turn when I have a question about a food controversy. Whether it’s what type of cookware is safest, whether or not to eat soy, or whether or not I should be concerned about arsenic in my rice, John and Ocean have created a great hub of information and support through the Food Revolution Network.
Every year I look forward to the Food Revolution Summit, where John interviews leading experts about recent findings on how we can better support our health. John chose to pursue a life promoting health rather than the very successful Baskin Robbins business he had grown up in and was in line to take over.
Mastering Diabetes
The Gut Health MD, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
Having seen multiple gastroenterologists for my husband with minimal improvement, I am a huge fan of Dr. B. A standout Dr who discovered the tremendous impact a shift on his diet had for not only him but his patients, Dr. Bulsiewicz recently published Fiber Fueled and has an online course to help you identify issues, get to the root of the problem and heal your gut.
The Blue Zones
National Geographic Author Dan Buettner set out to learn about the world’s longest living and healthiest communities. He called them the Blue Zones–areas where the people were characterized by not just longevity, but thrived well into old age. He found a lot of fascinating things they had in common, but one was the way that they ate. They all ate diets that were predominantly whole plant-foods with a lot of fruits, vegetables and beans.
Smart Kids Chores
Feel like this is all great but where are you going to find the time and energy to revamp the way you eat? Well, make sure you are on my email list because I am all about finding every way I can to make healthy food happen, especially in families.
But one thing that has been tremendously helpful to me has been the Smart Kids Chores course to help me really create a system that works for getting each member of my family involved in everything that needs to happen.
Now, instead of trying to unload the dishwasher and make breakfast with one hand while I hold my baby with the other, my kids get breakfast ready and unload the dishwasher while I take a quick shower and get dressed. I had tried for years to find a chore system that really worked, but nothing has been more helpful or worthwhile than the Smart Kids Chores course. And it was written by a mother of 10, so you know she knows what she’s talking about!
Kitchen Tools
Sometimes the biggest barrier between us and healthy food options is the time it takes to make them. These are some of my favorite items for whipping up healthy food faster than you can get take-out.
Here are just a few of my favorite pantry items. I buy many of them at Costco when I can, but as we all know, you can’t depend on Costco to always have what you want, which is when Amazon becomes the best option!
Education is key in understanding WHY and HOW to successfully transition to plant-strong eating. These are some of the top books and cookbooks to aid in the transition.
