Anyone try a whole foods plant based diet to help with symptoms?

[Mamabear12]

I have read a few books by doctors such as Dr Mcdougal, Dr Furhman, Dr Esselsten etc and online articles/websites about people healing by eating a whole foods plant based diet. I’m curious if anyone on here has tried it? And I might not be spelling the names entirely right above; but if you google whole foods plant based diet then you can find the doctors. They have all written books.

I also recommend watching what the health and checking out forks over knives website.

I have read about people reversing heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and stopping auto immune disease symptoms.

Many doctors just don’t know about this diet and how it can work to reverse these diseases.

I had to go on this diet because my BP went up to 198/150!!! I did not want to be on pills for life; so I changed my diet and within a few days my BP came down and now it’s been around 116/75 for the last few weeks. I take it 3 times a day and that is the average.

The diet is difficult at first. But once you get used to it, you realise it’s actually not bad and you feel great so it’s easy to stick to.

My GP never heard of this; but was amazed at how my BP came right down on this diet (I’m not taking medication).

I thought I would share it in case someone wants to learn more about it. Many people have started to feel better within days on being on this diet.

An example of what I eat:

1 cup of oats cooked with 2 cups water, w cinnamon and banana plus blueberries and a small handful of nuts.

Brown rice w beans, spinach, tomatoes and sweet potato. Plus avocado (I’m trying not to lose weight so I add healthy fats to my meals).

Snacks - smoothie made w oats, water and fruit. Or fruit w nuts. Or salad or veggies w humus. I eat whenever hungry so I don’t lose anymore weight. (Some people might want to lose weight and this diet does that fast! But I’m already quite thin so im making sure not to lose anymore)

Dinner - same as lunch w salad. Or soup w salad and potatoes. Or gluten free pasta w a veggie sauce.

If anyone does want to try this diet a few days and post how they feel, that would be great.

For me this diet has helped get rid of my high BP, heart palpitations, I would have some pains in my heart daily (not often but I definitely noticed it at least 1-3 times a day). That vanished on this diet. Also, a rash I had on my arms went within a few days (had the rash for two months!).

That’s great news about your blood pressure and brilliant that you’ve turned it round.

I don’t eat meat but I do eat fish several times a week and dairy. I have been reading up a lot about the gut biome and trying to incorporate a lot more fermented foods, pulses and beans into my daily diet and as much variety as possible.

I have concerns about cutting out dairy, although I’m getting so fed up with my autoimmune illness that I’m thinking about eliminating it for a few weeks to see what happens.

To be honest, there is so much conflicting advice out there regarding autoimmune and diet and so many styles of eating to choose from- anti inflammatory diet, paleo, plant based, Mediterranean that I guess it’s what works for you and helps.

I switch to a whole grain plant based mostly organic diet after my Coeliac disease was giving me jip. Turned out my symptoms were not cause by the CD and it was cancer related instead. I whole heartedly believe the diet had gotten me through all the difficult treatments fairly easily and there are loads of people that have healed all sorts of diseases with this diet.

The website https://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/category/expertinterviews/ had lots of interviews with experts on the benefits of nutrition and illness.

My body loves it, I feel great and have such great energy. It was tricky knowing what to eat initially but you soon get used to it.

Come and join the vegan what I ate today thread. Some great food ideas on there.

I haven't tried it but that's what I've always naturally loved to eat, especially the daily oats. My bp is low. But I lean towards pots. I do eat some dairy and meat too.

I’ve been doing this for nearly two weeks now. Hoping to lose weight, not sure if I have as haven’t weighed myself but am definitely feeling much better. I’ve watched quite a few YouTube videos on it and it has helped people reverse so many different illnesses. Its also so simple, I can cook for my family and not feel like I’m spending so much extra time cooking for myself.

@Todayisanewday75 how is it going? If you have not already, watch forks over knives on YouTube or check out the website success stories. It helps keep you motivated reading all the success in reversing health issues.

@Mamabear12 do you have shop bought soups, hummus etc. Or are these all homemade? How strict do you need to be for this to work?

My dad has various autoimmune issues including rheumatoid arthritis (they think) and follows an anti inflammatory diet. It started off really strict but now he can eat way more things as he’s worked out what he does and doesn’t react to.

He still can’t eat a lot of shop bought stuff though as spices are off the list (incl black pepper which is in everything) and so are potatoes, tomatoes and wheat. He does cheat on the diet sometimes but feels the effects.

@Tilly0921 I think it depends on the person of course. And I think initially best to be strict until you see if diet is working for you and then you can be less strict.

For example, I started off super strict, and now I’m 80 percent and my BP is okay. I monitor it 2-3 times a day to make sure.

I do eat shop bought humus. If I was single w no children I would probably prepare it from scratch. But I’ve got three kids and a dog plus a dh so I’m so busy and already cooking brown rice, oatmeal, veggies, making salads etc was enough work. Soups I make from scratch. I’m sure humus isn’t that difficult either. But for some reason I would just buy it.

Hi mimipie can I ask what the really strict diet your dad was on was? Mummy MIL has RA and wondered if it might help.
Certainly going to follow your diet for myself OP, am in bed early feeling achey and exhausted can’t be right!

I do think diet is critical but it's tough to be 'restrictive' when you're unwell. (I've got numerous autoimmune diseases and am on a biologic.) So many HCPs say, 'have a tin of soup and some granary bread' if you're too utterly fatigued to cook.

I've done 70 days of low FODMAP and low fat eating, with the help of family, and it has helped my guts, but my fatigue is still off the scale.

Sympathies. It’s sooo debilitating to have fatigue.

Oh god I hate it. I'm sick to death of it. I don't understand why profound fatigue isn't even investigated properly let alone treated. I'm talking about a previously fit woman (me, obvs) not being able to get up a sort flight of stairs.

Anyway - diet. The low FODMAP has definitely assisted the gut disorders.

Hi namebunny it’s the AIP diet. I don’t know the details but the broad idea is you cut out everything that commonly causes inflammatory/allergic reactions (which is quite a lot), get your body’s inflammation levels lower and give your gut a chance to heal a bit, then you add back foods one at a time and see which you personally react to and which you don’t. This will vary from person to person.

He’s also on methotrexate so obviously can’t ascribe the improvement to diet alone, but he can definitely see and feel a difference (more swollen/stiff joints) when he goes off-diet.

I read 'The China Study' years ago, which recommends that diet. It mentioned Dr McDougall, he has a website with many recipes under the 'free program' section. I also used to get the weekly emails with very short videos in them, there are also videos & testimonies of people that reversed many types of health problems.
I tried it for over a year but my problems are from an underactive thryroid & it didn't help with my lack of energy. I gave up as missed cheese a lot & didn't have the energy to cook nice things. (I've just registered with a private dr to get treatment which I can't get from nhs)
I still think it is the best diet for anyone that wants as long & healthy life as possible. The emphasis is on wholefood, it is no use replacing meat & fish with processed vegan food, or chips, as I remember them pointing out. It does mean giving up a lot of enjoyable food for good, which can be a tough choice to make.

Thanks minipie just googled and it looks strict but doable. Keen to persuade her to try!
Snowballs1, sorry you are having such a tough time health wise. Hope private helps.
Spindelwhorl, thanks, I’ll look up fod map as well. That level of fatigue sounds horrendous. It’s not until you have it.. I’m exhausted lying in bed! It’s a kind of drain of energy, like your blood doesn’t have any energy and somehow is heavy and exhausted. Wierd and horrid. Is that what you get?