It’s usually not until March rolls around that we have time to start thinking about ourselves. If you’ve been considering losing the extra holiday pounds or rejuvenating your health now is the time to take that leap. Not only is Spring an excellent time to recover from the holidays and to start you weight loss plan, but it also means that you’ll be looking your absolute best by the time summer (and even spring!) is here.

People are quick to say something is impossible, until someone else does it. So, this is me saying… it’s possible, I tried it first! I started eating a Plant Based diet 10 months ago. Mainly to reduce my low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels that had climbed out of range from eating a high fat low carb diet. Yikes! I looked fit but was unhealthy. My total cholesterol was in the 600 range. So I started eating a whole food plant based diet refusing several doctors orders to take a statin- a cholesterol lowering drug.

This past week my blood test showed my total cholesterol dropped to 218 and I have lost 8 lbs. I have stopped eating all animal proteins, dairy, eggs and oils eliminating all saturated fats which caused my cholesterol to rise. I turned to low fat plant foods which have healthy proteins, essential fatty acids, complex carbs and fiber. The good news was exciting and probably life saving.

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Studies show that those who adhere to a vegan diet have a lower body mass index BMI than that of their meat-eating counterparts. In addition, meat-eaters consume more calories and fewer vegetables, less fiber on average, than vegans do. Vegans are at reduced risk of certain health conditions, including heart disease; type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain cancer, and obesity.

Lower intake of saturated fat and higher intakes of vegetables, fruits, whole grain, legumes, nuts, and seeds all rich in fiber and phytochemical are characteristics of vegan diets. Plus I now see how a Plant-based diet is more environmentally sustainable than diets rich in animal products because they use fewer natural resources and are associated with much less environmental damage.

Interest in and appreciation for plant-based diets continue to grow in the United States and other parts of the world as governmental agencies and various health and nutrition organizations promote the regular use of plant foods. Abundant choices in the marketplace facilitate following a plant-based diet.