My relationship with food was established long before I understood health. I grew up eating fried foods, refined carbohydrates, dairy, sugary treats, and frequent takeout and fast food. In my early 20s, that pattern only deepened: Eating out was normal, convenience came first, and vegetables were more of an afterthought than a meaningful part of […]
I grew up in a family that ate unhealthy vegetarian diets—lots of fried foods and ultraprocessed snacks, even though meat wasn’t part of the picture. When I was 11 years old, both of my parents were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Over time, their health continued to decline, and later in life they each suffered […]
Once considered adult-onset conditions, Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are now increasingly showing up in children and teens, a trend that has doctors, public health experts, and parents concerned. Over the past two decades, prediabetes rates among U.S. adolescents have more than doubled. Now, a recent estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Just two years ago, I could barely walk up one flight of stairs to my office, and once I made it upstairs, I would have to stop and lean against the wall to catch my breath and relieve my back pain. Keep in mind, this was just one flight of stairs. I suffered from high […]
There’s nothing more inspiring and energizing for us than hearing how a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle has improved readers’ health and well-being. Over the years, we’ve been deeply moved by stories of people reversing debilitating and sometimes life-threatening diseases. We’ve witnessed many do a U-turn on multiple generations’ worth of poor eating habits, establishing a healthier […]
In 2015, I was trapped in a cycle of stress and poor habits. Overwhelmed by the demands of being a hospital doctor and the responsibilities of a growing family, I indulged in unhealthy foods as a coping mechanism, and my health declined. I developed obesity, prediabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol. The turning point came when […]
My husband, Jay, and I used to eat loads of animal products—all kinds of meat, including organ meats. We loved beef, especially a good cast-iron-seared ribeye. You name it, we ate it. About 20 years ago, Jay was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, as well as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We were told […]
I’m a disabled combat veteran, retired from the United States Air Force. Several years ago, I found myself grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (the aftermath of a plane crash during my military service) and a host of other medical issues, including prediabetes. It was hard to accept how much my health had deteriorated, when I’d […]
When it comes to Type 2 diabetes, there’s no shortage of evidence that a healthy plant-based diet is an effective tool for prevention and treatment. Now, a first-of-its-kind study finds that such diets may help manage Type 1 diabetes, as well, reducing insulin needs, improving insulin sensitivity, and promoting heart health in people living with […]
I grew up eating the standard American diet. Once I left home, I ate mostly vegetarian but with a lot of dairy and processed foods. My cholesterol was consistently over 200, and my A1C was in the prediabetic range. Through my 40s, I gained 40 pounds. I chalked it up to being postmenopausal and aging. […]
Adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet can help people with Type 2 diabetes achieve remission or significantly decrease their reliance on medication, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Researchers analyzed the health records of 59 Type 2 diabetes patients who were treated at a cardiac wellness clinic where they […]
Sharon Palmer (aka The Plant-Powered Dietitian) is beloved for her engaging plant-based cookbooks and blog, which are backed up by several decades of experience working as a registered dietitian nutritionist. Her brand-new release, The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes: A Guide for Prevention and Management, dives into the ever-growing research around the benefits of veganism […]
