Many individuals who follow the Nutritarian diet write to Dr. Fuhrman about their success. Keep in mind that results vary from person to person. As always, consult your physician if you have a medical history and/or condition that may warrant individual recommendations.

Joseph's Story

Joseph picture

Results may vary.

Joseph had 4 heart attacks and had stents in 5 arteries: following the vegan Nutritarian diet he no longer takes heart medication and has not had another heart attack for almost 4 years  

I never had any serious health issues, until my late 40s when I began feeling bad all the time. The diagnosis was indigestion and acid reflux, for which the doctor gave me pills. I later ended up in the hospital, but no cause was identified. I am just 5’4” and weighed 120 pounds as a young adult.

My wife battled cancer for almost 5 years and passed away at age 46 in Jan. 2011. I was 52. One week later I had my first heart attack. Two weeks later I had my second heart attack. I ended up with stents in all 5 arteries surrounding the heart. Both heart attacks were mild, and quick response resulted in little or no damage to the heart. I did not have typical risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, drinking, family history.

But I followed the typical American diet, was very sedentary, and the stress of my wife’s death put me over the top. I did not even experience angina, but my symptoms were nausea, dizziness, severe pain in the right (not left) arm and feeling bad all over.

I started heart medications, improved my diet, and began mountain biking once a week. It took a year to significantly increase my endurance. My weight dropped from 141 to 125. I even backpacked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up. I was feeling much better and thought I was doing great, but it was not enough. 2 ½ years later (Sept. 2013) I had a third mild heart attack. And 1 ½ years after that I suffered a 4th mild heart attack (March 2015).

A lady in the congregation I pastor visited me in the hospital and encouraged me to follow Dr. Fuhrman’s diet. I went home and read Eat to Live that week. I still had 6 children at home that I was caring for by myself, and I had read that the average heart attack patient only lives 8 years after having a heart attack. I immediately adopted a vegan Nutritarian diet. My weight quickly dropped from 125 or so to 110. Everyone was worried about me, but I felt great. After a while my weight rebounded to 115 and it stays within a couple pounds of it, regardless how much or little I eat. I eat all the vegetables, fruits, and beans I want, a little oatmeal, and a fair amount of seeds and nuts every day.

I work at home, and spend a large part of the day standing at my work desk. I also increased my exercise to several days a week. After a year, I stopped taking all heart medications. Recently I jogged two 5Ks, each under 40 minutes. I am here for my children. And I am still serving as pastor of a church at age 59. I follow God’s counsel at creation: “God also said: “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you.” (Genesis 1:29)

As a side note, I used to be allergic to cats. Dr. Fuhrman’s diet has ended that. I now enjoy having 5 cats, one of whom follows me around everywhere I go. Every year on the anniversary of my 4th heart attack, I read another book by Dr. Fuhrman. My four-year anniversary of my 4th heart attack is just three months away, and I have not had another heart attack during these 4 years.

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