Joy's Story

My eye doctor told me I had a "cotton wool spot" in my eye that could be due to high cholesterol. (My total cholesterol was 297). Though I was slim and extremely active, the internist I was recommended to immediately panicked. She gave me her home phone number, said she would be hard to reach over that weekend but I was to call her immediately if I had an emergency. Her nervousness made me nervous and my blood pressure in her office was around 178. She also said I would need an EKG. I was 54 and in good health. Her panic seemed ridiculous. However, I had shingles twice, dry bumpy skin (and "alligator" skin on my back). My eye pressures weren't perfect either.

I did a search on cholesterol and found Dr. Fuhrman's wonderful website. I bought Eat to Live and changed my diet. I realized that cholesterol could be lowered through diet, though my doctor said that mine was genetic and there was nothing I could do about it but take a statin.

 I had always eaten a lot of fruit and not much meat, but I never ate many nuts, except peanut butter, and not nearly enough veggies and rarely ate beans. I liked Indian food and often had curry chicken, which included cream in the sauce. I had small salads and enjoyed a processed-food dessert about once a week, such as ice cream.

It's amazing to me that relatively small changes had huge results. My total cholesterol dropped nearly 100 points, to 202. My skin smoothed out. My blood pressure is typically around 110/80 and my pulse ranges between 45 and 59. My eye pressure is always "excellent." I rarely get a cold; shingles have never returned.

I took the Nutritarian Institute course to be further inspired which had a marvelous effect on my husband, who is 21 years older than me. His weight went from 285 to 200 over a seven -year period. He told his doctor, who was amazed at the results, that the key is to call a "Nutritarian, not a doctor." He stopped being diabetic. Though he still has room for improvement, he's alive today because of Dr. Fuhrman's influence.