Diet determines your health, not family genetics!

I had just received the results of my annual physical. For the fourth straight year, my cholesterol was over 215. This year it was 231. The doctor called me and wanted me to start taking Lipitor. I was not excited at all about putting a drug in my body that would have some kind of side effects. This left me with the question: What do I do to avoid taking medicine and reduce my cholesterol?

One December evening while checking my email, I received an email that was forwarded to me from a friend. She had been on the Eat For Health/Eat to Live lifestyle for five months and her cholesterol level dropped drastically. That is when I realized I had received the answer to my dilemma. I was going to wait until the New Year began so I could continue to eat all the foods that I thought I loved – sweets and processed foods – and enjoy the holidays.

Then I woke up on December 29th and realized – Why should I wait and delay what I needed to do: lower my cholesterol? So I did two things that day – 1.) I joined a health club so I could start to exercise on a daily basis and 2.) began the Eat For Health/Eat to Live Lifestyle. I had already read the Eat to Live book, so I had an idea of what foods I should eat. After three days of exercise and eating according to Eat to Live, I lost six pounds – I attributed that to my body eliminating all the salt that was retaining water. As I continued to eat green vegetables, fruits, beans and a few nuts, I started to feel better. My cravings for processed foods filled with carbohydrates began to fade away. My energy level was better and I was inspired to eat the foods that fueled my body.

After approximately eight weeks of eating the Eat for Health/Eat to Live way, I returned to the Doctor’s office to have my cholesterol rechecked. My overall Cholesterol dropped from 231 to 127, HDL Cholesterol went from 35 to 34, LDL Cholesterol dropped from 168 to 82 and my triglycerides dropped from 142 to 56. It is interesting – I have a family history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. So many in my family are on medicine to reduce their Blood Pressure and Cholesterol. Doctors told me I was just fighting genetics. This program proves that diet is the answer.

Dr. Fuhrman’s approach is successful because it focuses on what you can eat, you do not have to count points or measure out food – you just have to eat the right foods. I have tried many other diets, but they were not sustainable. They only worked for a short time. Dr. Fuhrman’s approach teaches you how to eat for a lifetime! My 'new' favorite foods are my famous vegetable soup, smoothies, and best of all, the evening bowl of fresh pineapple with frozen blueberries and blackberries.

Dr. Fuhrman's eating program has transformed my life. It has allowed me to challenge myself to do physical things as well like running. In September of 2009, I ran in a mini marathon (13.1 miles) and finished the race in 1 hour and 50 minutes. That’s an average pace of 8 minutes and 28 seconds per mile. The summer of 2008 I was running 2 to 3 miles a day and struggling to run a 10 minute pace. This lifestyle has brought me other benefits including no longer needing a daily nap, I can now run 7.5 miles a day, exercise for a continuous hour, and eliminated cravings for toxic foods. Old friends and relatives cannot believe how good I look!

drfuhrman.com