Yesterday I interviewed Alison, who after years of infertility issues and PCOS, was able to conceive when she switched to a plant-based diet. You can read her story here .
I also shared my personal struggle with my period and PMS (namely, debilitating cramps) and how a plant-based vegan diet relieved my pain and suffering last week. You can read my experience here .
Having experienced ‘radical relief’ myself (twice now!), I am on a mission to communicate the message that plants harmonize hormones to others. This is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about Dr. Barnard’s brand new book (RELEASED THIS WEEK!), Your Body in Balance .
Get your copy of Your Body in Balance right here.
Grabbing a copy this week will also help Dr. Barnard and I make this book #1.
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing another lovely lady who is featured as a “success story” in YBB.
A little bit about Katherine: Katherine is an Aerospace Engineer and served in the USAF. Today she lives in Texas and works as an engineer at Bell Helicopter. Katherine also volunteers as an instructor for The Cancer Project in DC, runs a 5,000 sq ft demo kitchen that provides free nutrition and cooking classes in Southlake, Texas and she recently launched a cooking tutorial website, foodsavedme.com .
HH: Neal [Dr. Barnard] shared that like me, you had extraordinary painful cramps, except your pain did not necessarily come across as cramps. Can you tell us about that?
Katherine: In 2006, I began having severe abdominal pain. After several misdiagnoses over
5 months, my doctor finally determined I had severe endometriosis . [Endometriosis is a condition where cells, similar to those in the endometrium (the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus) grow outside of it. Most often this is on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissue around the uterus and ovaries.]
HH: What does that mean?
Katherine: It had spread beyond my ovaries and fallopian tubes, and formed adhesions around my intestine.
HH: That sounds horrendously painful. Other than the pain, are there any additional health risks to having endometriosis?
Katherine: Typically, endometriosis can leave scar tissue on the reproductive organs, usually leading to infertility.
HH: Yikes! Is there any treatment?
Katherine: My doctor told me there was no cure for my severe condition and I would have to undergo surgery to remove it. I was also told I would have to take medications that put me into early menopause.
HH: OMG WHY?
Katherine: My doctor said that was needed to keep the endometriosis from coming back. He also said that I would eventually need a full hysterectomy because of the high risk for endometrial cancer .
HH: This is so severe… and scary! Did he say diet could help?
Katherine: My doctor said food had nothing to do with it, but before I opted for a hysterectomy, I wanted to talk to a nutritionist.
HH: What did the nutritionist have to say?
Katherine: The nutritionist taught me which foods can damage the reproductive system and
which foods can help heal it. On his recommendation, I removed most of the excess fat,
salt, and sugar from my diet. I also began eating more whole, plant foods.
HH: Was the transition easy for you?
Katherine: It was a difficult transition, but I felt it was my only hope of avoiding surgery.
HH: Did the dietary intervention work?
Katherine: After 5 weeks on my new diet, I went in for a laparoscopy . My doctor saw evidence of
the scarring and the adhesion around my colon, but 95% of the endometriosis was gone.
He was amazed! My abdominal pain was no longer there either.
HH: That is incredible! Did you experience any other positive benefits?
Katherine: My cholesterol dropped from 178 to 128, and after several months on the diet, the seven fibroid cysts I'd had in my breasts since puberty dissolved. I also lost a total of 55 pounds.
HH: What about fertility? Were there any complications?
Katherine: I have three healthy boys, ages 2, 6 & 8 and conceived all of them naturally.
HH: Wow, that is amazing! Thank you for sharing your story with us today Katherine.
You can also watch video interviews with Katherine here .
Get your copy of Your Body in Balance right here.
A little bit about YBB: Dr. Neal Barnard’s latest book, Your Body in Balance: the New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health, tackles a whole new side of health. From menstrual cramps to menopause, from thyroid problems to depression, it explores how foods can change your hormones and all the mischief they can cause.
This amazing book provides step-by-step guidance on how specific foods can help with infertility, cramps, endometriosis, PCOS, hot flashes, and erectile dysfunction, as well as breast and prostate cancer through healthful diet changes. It also discusses how foods affect our weight, mood, and overall health. Your Body in Balance includes meal-planning tips and 65 delicious recipes by Lindsay S. Nixon.
Topics included:
Foods for Fertility
A New Approach to Cramps and Premenstrual Syndrome
Tackling Cancer for Women
Tackling Cancer for Men
Reversing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Tackling Menopause
Curing Erectile Dysfunction and Saving Your Life
Conquering Diabetes
A Healthy Thyroid
Healthy Skin and Hair
Foods that Fight Moodiness and Stress
Avoiding Environmental Chemicals
Get your copy of Your Body in Balance right here.