Healthy Living for Real People
Posts tagged vegan
Venus Goes Vegan For Health’s Sake
Jan 3rd
Celebrities usually choose a plant-based diet for sociopolitical reasons, but this time disease took center stage.
We were very encouraged to discover that tennis star Venus Williams is choosing a vegan diet to battle Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease.
She had been fighting the arthritic-like condition for some time and actually had to drop out of competition last year.
Once doctors gave the diagnosis, Venus’ sister Serena (also a tennis celebrity) suggested that she try holistic measures to address it, recognizing that traditional therapies had the potential to cause other problems.
So, in addition to massage therapy and yoga, Venus adopted a raw, vegan diet — specifically to battle inflammation in her joints. Her sister Serena joined her, for both her own health and for moral support.
It’s great to see prominent people like this understand and implement the power of raw, plant-based foods.
Hopefully the Williams sisters can have an effect on their sphere of influence as Bill Clinton did.
When he announced that he was “going vegan” to address his heart condition last year, interest in a plant-based diet went through the roof (you should have seen the inquiries we received about The Hallelujah Diet).
And we say, “more power to them!” Who better than celebrities to bring the message of plant-based health to the masses?
Your turn…
Which celebrity would you like to see adopt a plant-based diet?
Click to comment!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 24th
As you sit down with friends and family for Thanksgiving, think about the good each person around the dinner table has contributed to your life.
Think about how they’ve shaped your character and what you can do to make their lives better.
Who knows? The best way to thank them for what they’ve done for you may be introducing them to a better diet and lifestyle!
Happy (healthy) Thanksgiving from both of us!
“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
- Proverbs 15:17
New Survey Busts Plant-based Myths
Mar 8th
The newly released results of an innovative survey called Vegan From The Inside debunks six myths about a plant-based diet and revealed that:
- 97% of vegans enjoy their food
- 94% of vegans want to stay on a plant-based diet for the rest of their lives
The survey, authored by Janice Stanger, PhD, posed six questions to 2,068 people from around the world who had been on an animal-free diet for at least 100 days. The results and accompanying testimonials demystify and encourage a plant-based diet.
Myth #1: Vegans are pale, weak, and unhealthy because their diet lacks protein and other vital nutrients.
Survey said: 68.6% of respondents noted they got healthier after starting a 100% plant-based diet, yet only 1.6% said their health declined.
Testimonial sample: “When I gave up dairy products, I was finally able to “cure” my chronic sinusitis. After 6 sinus surgeries, I was amazed that the solution was so easy.”
Myth #2: A vegan diet has too many “carbs” to be effective for weight loss.
Survey said: 42.1% of respondents lost weight they wanted to lose after going plant-based, and 73.4% enjoy cooking more since going animal-free.
Testimonial sample: “My life has changed 1000% for the better. I’d been struggling with being overweight for years and lost 33 pounds & have maintained for 3 months.”
Myth #3: A vegan diet is boring.
Survey said: 96.7% of respondents enjoy the food they eat on a vegan diet.
Testimonial sample: “Every myth I’ve heard about a vegan diet has been debunked over time, especially the myth that it is not an interesting, sustaining, or varied diet.”
Myth #4: A vegan diet is all about deprivation and lower quality of life.
Survey said: Plant-based eaters indicated other rewards of their diet, including enjoying cooking more (73.4%), making a difference for animals (90.8%) and the environment (86.3%), feeling closer to animals and nature (70.5%), helping others by being a good role model (69.6%), and feeling more spiritual (41.6%).
Testimonial sample: “I absolutely love being vegan. Always said I couldn’t do it because of a love for cheese, and now I can’t imagine eating cheese.”
Myth #5: A vegan diet requires a high level of discipline and is difficult to stick to in the long-run.
Survey said: 64.5% of respondents said transitioning to a plant-based diet required some effort, but 61.2% observe staying on a vegan diet on an ongoing basis is effortless, and 94.4% intend to stay on it for the rest of their life.
Testimonial sample: “Becoming (and staying) vegan is SO much easier than people assume.”
Myth #6: Vegans can’t enjoy eating out or other social get-togethers.
Survey said: While 60.2% indicate eating out is less convenient, many respondents wrote in the strategies they have developed to overcome this.
Testimonial sample: “Eating out is difficult sometimes… however, these inconveniences are small and are totally worth it.”
Dr. Pam Popper praised the findings, saying, “Finally, some documentation showing what those of us who have been teaching people to adopt a plant-based diet for years have known all along. The diet is easy, people love it, they get great results, and they generally stick with it.”
108-Year-Old Woman Credits Plant-based Diet
Feb 15th
News Channel 8 in Portland recently reported on the 108th birthday celebration of Loreen Dinwiddie. Though brief, the story said a lot about longevity and the power of a plant-based diet like The Hallelujah Diet.
When asked about what she eats to promote a healthy lifestyle, Loreen says, “It’s all there in the Bible.”
Indeed, Genesis 1:29, the original diet for mankind says it all. Food that grows from the ground has all of the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, phytonutrients, etc needed to sustain our bodies — apparently for 108 years or more!
But eating a “vegan” diet doesn’t guarantee a long life. Remember that even refined sugar is vegan and is often an ingredient in vegan recipes. This calls for education on the part of anyone looking to a plant-based diet for reasons of health.
Granulated, refined, white sugar at the coffee shop is vegan (and granted, plant-based), but it’s not a whole food. A whole food is one that is still in its natural state, unrefined. Refined sugar has been stripped of its naturally occurring benefits and refined into an unnatural, health-deteriorating, disease-causing substance.
Freshly extracted sugarcane juice, on the other hand, is a plant-based, whole food that a relatively low glycemic index, which keeps the body’s metabolism healthy and helps maintain a healthy body weight — how ironic is that! Sugarcane also contains phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. And in India and other countries it has been used to fight the common cold for centuries.
The simple truth is that raw, plant-based, whole foods have the living enzymes that our bodies need to thrive and replace dying cells with healthy new ones. Loreen Dinwiddie has taken advantage of this truth, and you can, too.
Oprah’s Staff Can Do It… But You Can Do Better
Feb 3rd
Earlier this week, the plant-based message we promote at Hallelujah Acres received a huge boost from Oprah herself. Oprah and more than 300 of her staff members did a “vegan challenge.”
Though they only did it for a week, many of them expressed that switching to a 100% plant-based diet made them feel better and have more energy — which is a huge testament to the power of God’s original diet. (Imagine the impact those people could experience if they did our 60 Days to Reclaim Your Health challenge!)
Oprah had a few experts on the show that were explaining how to transition from meat-based, sugar-dessert diets to a plant-based diet. That was great! The more people who discover the benefits of foods on The Hallelujah Diet, the better. But we were a little disappointed at all the packaged foods they suggested.
Though all the packaged foods were vegan, they were, in many cases, over seasoned, contained additives, and still had a good dose of sugar. These types of food may be fine for those going vegan for animal rights reasons, but if you’re looking to improve your health in the long run, the mostly raw, whole foods on The Hallelujah Diet are a better choice.
It doesn’t take much to make a version of any vegan packaged food. For cereal, don’t buy the box, just soak a few grains overnight and add some fruit in the morning. For milk, start with store bought almond or rice milk, then transition to making it yourself at home with just 2 or 3 ingredients. You can even make vegan sausage using just a few simple ingredients and a juicer.
We’re encouraged to see big time names like Oprah and Dr. Oz starting to lean toward The Hallelujah Diet message. Just remember to read between the lines of their message and make your own (often better) choices based on raw, unprocessed foods.
The New Name for “Vegetarian”
Jan 18th
What’s in a name? A lot, apparently. The label of being “vegetarian” has earned itself such a tree-hugging, planet-saving stigma that people are beginning to shy away from the name in favor of more “liberal” terms.
In the UK, research by Mintel shows the number of consumers calling themselves “vegetarian” has not moved over the past 5 years. Vegetarians there account for only 6% of the population. Now for the strange part… The number of people who would not necessarily label themselves as vegetarian yet agree with the statement, “I eat meat-free food” is a whopping 60%.
Mintel researchers say the reason for the dichotomy is the individual’s motive for choosing vegetables over animal products. Apparently, for the 60% who eat “meat-free” it’s not about the ethics of the meat industry, but what’s better for the consumer’s health.
It’s also about choice. The term “vegetarian” has become a word synonymous with “restrictive” and nobody wants to restrict what they eat. Conversely, the term “meat-free” gives a connotation of choice and freedom (gosh that “free” word is powerful).
Here in America you can see the same differences between the terms “vegan” and “healthy.” Being vegan is chic, but most people would assume you have to be a card-carrying member of PETA to qualify. Thus, being vegan is viewed as being “extreme” instead of “creative” or (dare we say) “wise.” Yet everyone wants to be “healthy.”
Personally, when we describe The Hallelujah Diet, we don’t use the words vegan or vegetarian, but “plant-based.” After all, plants are our friends. They give us oxygen, nutrients, delicious flavors, and pump up our immune system.
So, the next time someone asks you to describe your diet, don’t use a “V” word. Say “plant-based” instead and keep the peace. 
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