We've just covered the cells in my human anatomy class – our bodies are made of 75 trillion or more of them. As I teach about their structures, how they have organelles (little organs) whose jobs are to take the products from metabolism and turn those products into useful or not useful tools in our bodies, I am reminded how significant the last two and a half years have been for both Matthew and I. It was two and a half years ago that we evaluated our lifestyle and food choices and gave our kitchen and diet a complete overhaul.

Our friend says we have “Super Cells” and that stuck with me. We do have super cells. Most everything Mati and I eat on a daily basis is useful to our 75 trillion cells. Our cells are happy to utilize so much of what they need from the high nutrient foods we eat and then manufacture those materials' building blocks for a long and healthy life. We have super cells. Isn’t that cool?


I’ve been remiss to write lately about our lives around food because frankly there’s so much confusion around nutrition and “diet styles” that I found myself wanting to move away from any analysis about what we eat.

I’ve found that to try and express the science around our “diet style” is confusing. It’s not that the material itself is difficult but who cares? If you’ve already tried and read a thousand different authors and heard a thousand different news stories and experts telling you what to eat, you don’t want to hear it from a couple of little dumb asses with a blog telling you to do it “this way”. I understand that. I realize I’d rather not tell you what to do anyway. Unless, of course, you ask. In that case, I’ll be happy to boss you around the kitchen!

In addition, I’ve always had a strong aversion to labels. So I’ve found myself becoming increasingly reluctant to talk about “our food”. Or to explain that we do indeed eat animal products - just not regularly (by not regularly, we mean once a week) and only certain unadulterated animal products if possible and in very small portions. That, no we’re not vegan and not vegetarian and no we don’t eat for our blood types or low carbs or high protein or for weight loss or gain or like our ancestors and no we’re not master cleaning ourselves.

The sheer number of distinct and different conversations I’ve had recently around what people eat and why has been an eye opening experience that reveals the true confusion around what is best for us to put in our mouths. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, who we get a significant amount of information from, would say we’re nutritarians. He coined that phrase. It’s a good one, but I don’t intend to call myself that either. I’ve always had a strong aversion to labels.

So like I said, I’ve been remiss in writing recently about our “diet” because I hadn’t found a manner to express what I want to say. I have a deep respect and reverence for the food we eat and the meals we create in our lives and eat together at mealtimes, so it seems disrespectful to always be analyzing the science and the why of it all when sometimes the textures, the colors, the beauty of what’s on my plate and the understanding of how it got there just takes my breath away.

It seems disrespectful to talk so much about the science of food and why we’re eating it. It’s like talking during the symphony. I’d rather, for now, for this blog post, just pause to appreciate that for the last two and a half years, I’ve been feeding this organism I live in, called a human body the most excellent stuff I can gather. And that is enough.

So lately, I’ve been more quiet and prone to celebrating nature’s bounty. People who grow things for us to eat are heroic. I’d like to honor them. The produce that magically shows up on my doorstep on Tuesday mornings is unimaginable to me. When you don’t drive a car anywhere and you live in a place that is so spread out that its difficult to not have one, I realize how overwhelming certain things are. Growing something to eat and growing enough of it seems hard. Most of us don’t grow everything we eat so we can’t really wrap our brains around the idea of that.

We get a box of organic produce delivered to us once a week. It’s called the Monster Mix from an organization called Farm Fresh To You. And it’s gorgeous. It’s all organic local farmers’ produce. This week we received a huge bounty. The farmers send a note with farm news and recipes and things happening in the community. The farmer said that he hopes we enjoy our boxes this week since the beginning of fall is in them.


Thaddeus writes in his newsletter: Fall Shower …“Rains do not all smell the same, and the first rain of the season always smells the best. There is a musty, earthy, life-building smell in the first rain – a smell that compares to the smell of freshly baked bread, a good cup of coffee on a cold winter day or the fragrance of the spring’s first citrus blossom. I stood under the cover of the house porch breathing deeply, feeling calmed and refreshed with my existence.”

This week the farmers delivered a huge bouquet of green chard, 4 baby bok choys, a large bunch of carrots, lettuce, plums, apples, pears, figs, lemon cucumbers, beets with the greens attached, radishes, zucchini, potatoes. And us, we have the privilege of eating what their love and mastery of the earth has created.

So today, what I want to say is this. It’s the simplest and most artistic thing in the world to reclaim the health and beauty that your human organism wants desperately to express. It’s simple though, only after you’ve fallen in love with the idea of changing your life and it's only simple after you’ve made and given yourself over to the commitment – like a good marriage. And your local farmers will be glad support your commitment.

And that’s as scientific as I want to get today. I’ll save the rest for the students in class tonight.

Until next time,
Be well little cell

The French Paradox

Today I'd like to dive into one of the dietary clichés so often bandied about by Americans: the French Paradox. The idea that a couple glasses of wine, a nice piece of foie gras and a healthy dose of joie de vivre are all you need to live a long, healthy and happy life. For it's an idea that many Americans seem to buy into.

Certainly one can be relatively happy eating almost any type of diet. And happiness is too broad an art form to reduce to the sum of what you put on your plate each day. Rather it's the first two adjectives I'll humbly take exception with in this post. That's to say, are the French really any healthier or longer living than Americans?

To begin with, the health claims of the so-called French Paradox have long been overblown if not downright false. Any supposed difference in heart disease is more than offset by the similar disease rates from which the French suffer in almost all other areas of health. Disease rates that mirror other countries that eat a similar Western diet.
Indeed, healthy adult life expectancy varies little between Western countries. A few years of generally declining health does not constitute a reasonable dietary goal in my opinion. Nor does the prospect of diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's that can seriously diminish not only the quantity but the quality of our lives. So all health claims aside, lets take a look at the other inherent claim to the French paradox, the pleasure principle. Fiction or fact?

Before we begin, let me say that the French do a lot of things right in my view. Selection and preparation of ingredients is taken seriously. The variety of fresh produce and other items is impressive and affordable. Once the meal prepared, much more time is dedicated to the ritual of dining than in the US. Meals are eaten with friends and family in a setting that befits them.

The culture of fast food, while making further inroads each year, remains far less evident in France than in America. There still exists a strong social taboo in regards to snacking between meals, whose hours you can literally set your watch by. For an American in France, these social rules can surprise by their unbending rigidity. But how does it all translate in regards to pleasure?

First, let's say that the French in general are far thinner than most Americans, a fact that's true though of almost every other nation on Earth. Thinness is of course a relative standard and the French are far from immune to obesity or excess weight. Lets just say that not all French women are skinny bitches by any means. But more importantly, those that are in my experience are almost just as paranoid about their weight as many American women.

For no sooner does one of their infamously rich entrées or desserts arrive at table than a barrage of fat-phobic dialogue fills the air. "Oh, ça fait grossir" (Oh, how fattening). Or "je vais faire exploser ma balance" (literally: I'm gonna make my scale explode). I have nothing against a woman wanting to stay thin but its this type of behavior that can put a guy positively off his appetite.

For surely there is no less pleasurable way to eat a meal than with this type of guilt or anxiety surrounding it. This type of "bad faith" as Sartre would call it has become as entrenched in the flow of many dinners I've attended as the detailed descriptions of the origin and character of the wine or cheese selected for the meal. I find it incredibly bad taste to subject your neighbor to your own dietary hang-ups at the moment of crowning pleasure of the meal.

Because if you do occasionally partake of rich cuisine you can either honor how your body will handle it or continue to play the role of the tortured gourmand. I would argue for the former. For there is a beauty in the fact that your human body has been honed through millennia of rich evolution with its environment to look upon this piece of foie gras or camembert as an excellent chance to stock away extra calories for a rainy day.

It is a luxury most people throughout human history would not have taken nearly so lightly. For in their simple wisdom lay a truer understanding of what feasting should mean. Only in a society of such decadent abundance could we so pervert our natural instincts, swapping gratitude for guilt and joy for vanity.

But a truer understanding would let you happily enjoy your dessert because you'd have ample faith in the excellence of the rest of your diet to keep you thin, healthy and happy. Gone will be the tortured choice between thin and happy, between pleasure and pride. Such a recognition represents one of the rare chances remaining for us to break free from our body-hating culture and make friends once more with the most elemental part of ourselves, the body.

And one shouldn't deny the beauty of a thin, capable body in this world for it's one of the most divine forms of our human condition, a true work of art. But if it comes at the price of anxiety and worry, we will have made an enemy of our body. And such a trade-off should never be justified. Nor should we sacrifice a thin, healthy body in the mistaken belief eating will thus be pleasure-less and dull.

This world exists for you to be free in and anyone who tells you otherwise is surely no wise man nor artist. For you can have your cake and eat it too. The art is entirely in knowing how.

So please be happy and well little cell.
Until next time,
Matthew

Migraine Diva

Before we introduce you to another one of our friends venturing into the world of nutrient dense eating, we want to give you a quick update.


For those of you following our friend Rose's progress, she recently finished the first phase of switching to a nutrient dense diet. What we mean by nutrient dense is that 95 percent of what she eats is power packed with nutrients and void of empty calories or processed foods. That means nearly all of what she eats is plant-based beans, green veggies and fruits and nuts and seeds - all full of disease fighting, anti-aging nutrients.

We're impressed. She's lost 2 pant sizes and tells me she's feeling much better. What the weight loss means for Rose is not purely aesthetic. The more important part of weight loss is how her body is getting better at processing insulin and not making as much. Her risk for cardiovascular disease is diminishing as is a whole host of other diseases related to eating a diet void of nutrients. We encourage you to check out Dr. Joel Furhman's books if you haven't already picked them up.

Interview With Another Nutritarian Friend

Rayanne is our friend who appears glamorous even when she is in severe pain with a migraine headache. She has been battling certain health issues and decided to give her diet a closer look to see if she could make some improvements. Because recurring migraines are not glamorous. Here's what she had to say.

1. Why did you decide to make a change in your diet?
I lived in Thailand for 3 years when I was younger, moving back to the UK in 2000, when I was 14. Ever since, I have had digestive problems; starting with simple stomach pains, escalating to being tested for Crohn’s, being diagnosed with IBS, cutting out wheat, dairy and meat from my diet and losing two dress sizes in weight. Yes I was a size 10 but I didn’t go through a week without experiencing extreme fatigue or constipation or diarrhea or vomiting…and it just seemed to be getting worse. Intense migraines were added to the list recently which was a real motivator to find out the cause behind my body’s weakness.

All of my New Year resolutions for 2010 are to do with feeling good. At the beginning of this year I went to see a chiropractor, a dentist and also a kinesiologist. This last appointment was really eye opening. I was told that my stomach, liver and intestines were under a lot of strain and as a result my body’s overall health was at 50%. The cause? Parasites. Three gastro squatters had set up camp in my gut in Bangkok and had been living there rather luxuriously for 10 years. I’m happy to say I kicked them out and claimed my digestive system back.

Changing my eating habits seemed to me the natural next step. I owed it to my body to overdose on nutrients to make up for a decade of deficiency. Step in Dr Furhman.

2. Did you read the book Eat To Live and how did it affect you?
Yes. Yes. Yes.

In three days. The logic behind every word was so inspirational.

It got me painting again.

3. What did you change about your diet and how did it affect the way you live?
On finishing the book I decided I wanted to do it properly. After cleansing my kitchen and filling it with muddy market marvels I dove head first into the 6 week regime - a diet consisting basically of fruits, nuts and raw and cooked vegetables. The end of Week Four is fast approaching and I do feel pretty bloody good.

In terms of changing the way I live I wouldn’t say anything drastic has happened. I guess the main difference is where I shop and my acute awareness of the foods I buy – 90% of it comes from the local farmer’s market.

And as a result of the 90% rule I can actually live my life. Of course I have been a little ill with detoxing and adapting to the diet but nothing compared to what I was going through. I have more energy to do the things I want, I feel satiated when I eat, I’ve had the privilege to try new and exciting foods I never knew existed and I’m honored enough to have wonderful fellow nutritarians to inspire me. So actually in conclusion I take it back. The way I live has changed quite dramatically and in a fucking awesome way.


4. What have you learned most about yourself?
That I am normal! Minus Wilfred, Winifred and Winston the worms, my body is pretty good at digesting. I have avoided fruit (among so many things) for so long but now I live off apples and oranges, mangoes and strawberries, pears and kiwis and so many other colourful, tasty and gorgeous foods pain free, it’s wonderful.

I’ve also learned that I am quite a good cook, I am dedicated to this life change, motivated to continue it and proud that I’ve kept it up and am in it for the long haul.

5. What have you learned about the world around you?
Do not underestimate the power of denial.

People are stuck in tradition and are so blindly loyal to what they have been taught they can’t and don’t want to believe in anything else, irrespective of irrefutable research and results. There is a thick blanket of ignorance over the Western world in regards to nutrition and despite the saying “You are what you eat” being commonplace, the majority of the population are happily tucking into servings of cholesterol, platefuls of heart attacks and side dishes of cancer.

People are willing to eat themselves dead and are equally prepared to omit the natural healing foods their bodies need. Armed with nutritarian knowledge, I now notice this widespread ignorance everywhere and realize change won’t come easy.

6. What were or are the obstacles or difficulties you face with changing your diet?
Firstly, I get bored of chewing, I feel like a cow. Lettuce yeah it’s wonderful for your system blah blah but I’m bored of green shit! But I have come across some delicious recipes to jazz up our Leafy Friends which have stopped me (more than once) from throwing the head of lettuce out the window.

Secondly, I was prepared for a serious detox at the beginning of this diet but it never came. I figured my body was too busy with all the vitamins, nutrients, minerals and proteins I was gorging on. However, last weekend I had my first real migraine in a month and this time I had to stay away from the codeine. Pain, nausea and blindness in my right eye for 36 hours = horrendous. The relief when I finally woke up feeling restless and migraine free was immense; my body had finally realized it was getting no prescription help and it came through.

7. Do you feel better/worse? Do you think you look better?
My body feels as though it’s in sync. It’s hard to explain but I feel more spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced.

8. Was or is there anything about changing your diet that has surprised you?
How easy it was. It feels as though I’ve only ever eaten this way. Of course, I’m not a saint, I crave fries and chocolate and deep fried goodness and who knows, after 6 weeks maybe I’ll have some. But knowing what I know now I’ll be much more aware of what it is I’m eating.

9. Has your decision to change your diet affected other people in your life? How?
I wouldn’t say so. I suppose living with a fellow Dr Furhmanite has helped as there are no temptations in the house and we support each other.


On a side note my mother is not very impressed. She thinks I’m starving myself because there is no fish or meat or other animal products in my diet. She has even asked a friend of hers (who suffers from extreme food allergies and helped me I when I moved back to England) to talk to me about ‘what I’m putting my body through.’ I’ll let you know what she says.


Until next time,
Be well little cell.

Overdosed America

Ruth and I know that so many of our readers are hungry to learn more about how to navigate the complicated world of modern medicine and scientific research. That's why we gladly recommend Overdosed America, by John Abramson of Harvard Medical School, the detailed account of "how the pharmaceutical companies are corrupting science, misleading doctors and threatening your health." Not only is Abramson's advice and research clear and science-based but it cuts through the lies and inaccuracies that have led us as a nation down the path to chronic disease and financial ruin.

It starts with a simple notion, but one that has been nearly lost in current medical practice: if you suffer from diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease, depression or even simpler problems like mild fever, headache or a sore throat, you should not think of drugs as your first choice. Medications have their place in extreme cases, but modern science is very clear that the most effective treatments are nutrition and lifestyle change. And this is what your doctor should be telling you first instead of reaching for the prescription pad.

Abramson goes on to explain that symptoms, be they headaches or weight gain, are the body's way of pointing out problems we must address to bring our health back into alignment. To cover up these symptoms with medications that treat the effects rather than the root causes of disease is a dangerous practice because all drugs are by nature toxic to some extent and they do little to nothing to improve your overall health. Insulin, cholesterol-lowering drugs, even simple Tylenol will do almost nothing to make you substantially healthier in the long run. They simply reduce your symptoms and give you a false notion of health.

The idea is, of course, not to avoid all drugs but rather to return them to their proper place. That is to say as a last resort and only until more effective modalities can be substituted. The body is a miraculous, self-healing wonder when allowed to do its job. Yet we have succumbed to the temptation to treat it as a piece of machinery with a pill for each and every little thing that ails us. If the result was greater health both individually and collectively it would be hard to find fault with this approach. But in a nation where 73% of Americans are obese or overweight, where 58% of Americans die needlessly of cardiovascular-related disease and where our collective health is threatening the economic survival of our nation, I'd say there's a problem.

In the evermore confused and confusing debate on health care, we feel that knowledge is our only hope. We must work to educate ourselves as consumers so as to better scrutinize the information that affects our health decisions. The political and monetary influence of drug companies has polluted medical practice and distorted reporting on scientific research for too long. And the myth of better living through science has made us the sickest people in history. It's high time we as Americans choose a different path.

But to do so, we must say no to the lies proffered by drug companies at our expense. There will be no cure for cancer unless it is lifestyle and diet-based. So let's stop throwing our money at pharmaceutical giants in the well-meaning but misguided attempt to help the millions of people who suffer needlessly from cancer. The science is very clear on this subject. Yet it has not had the chance to be heard by the American public. Make no mistake, the so-called "War on Cancer" is too good a business to allow scientific truth to get in the way.

That's why we as individuals must do more to promote the lost idea that nutritional intervention and lifestyle changes are not only more effective but far more affordable in avoiding, treating and even reversing the vast majority of the diseases that are bringing this nation of ours to its knees. Not only is it good science, but it makes good sense for everyone involved: our health care system, our communities, our families and ourselves.

Education and word-of-mouth are helping to create a veritable revolution in the health and vitality of our nation. The wisdom of researchers and doctors like Joel Fuhrman, T. Colin Campbell and John Abramson is helping to change the lives of millions of people. We can no longer continue to ignore their work and research and the positive changes they are introducing into so many people's lives.

The only question that remains is are you ready to get on board? We invite you to do so, both for your sake and for the sake of each and every loved one in your life. This isn't a sale's pitch, this is your health. It's time to take back control. It starts with education. Educate yourself, your friends and your family and you will change your world in ways you could've never imagined. I promise you that.

Loafin' Around With Our Friends

**Lentil Loaf Recipe Below

Well Cell’s Interview with a Nutritarian
By answering the following questions and allowing us to share some of your experience on our blog, you will most likely inspire others and help them to feel supported in their own efforts to change their lives for the better so thank you in advance for participating with us and also for being an inspiration to both Matthew and I.

Please be as honest as you comfortably can since many of our blog readers will likely relate to your feelings, difficulties, if any, and your inspirations.


Why did you decide to make a change in your diet?
The reasons I decided to make a change in my diet are many. First and foremost, I’m severely overweight and have been for more than a decade now. And although I’ve been told my weight gain as well as the maintaining of the weight throughout the years served as a sort of protection due to emotional issues, I finally realized that I was in fact slowly killing myself through food. For many years I’d been in denial about having any health related side effects due to my being obese. But I could not ignore the fact that diabetes runs in my family as well as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In the last four years I was forced to face this reality head on when I became a caregiver to my grandmother on my dad’s side of the family. I had to see my beautiful grandmother deteriorate due to many bad food choices she had made throughout her life. After decades of not eating healthfully, her diabetes was out of control and she had acquired a heart condition. She could no longer walk without the use of a walker and her obesity became a huge burden due to the fact that she couldn’t clean or dress herself. She had to be cared for as one would care of an infant. This was my grandmother who had been so strong and hardworking throughout her life. A woman who raised 11 children and countless grandchildren. Someone who always put everyone else’s needs before her own.

I believe subconsciously, I was thinking about myself at my grandmother’s age, IF I even made it to that age. I started to feel as if there was an onslaught of disease and health problems coming my way. As a matter of fact, in 2007 I began to experience lightheadedness, migraine headaches, and dizzy spells, as well as high blood pressure. I went to see a doctor and she attributed all of these symptoms to stress. But I asked myself, what if? What if these are the first signs to other issues to come. Diabetes. Heart attack, etc., etc.


Another reason I chose to make a change in my diet was due to the fact that I was tired of being fat, plain and simple. I was tired of not being able to do simple things many people take for granted. Fitting comfortably into an airplane seat, a movie theater seat, narrow chairs, rides at amusement parks, and so and so forth. Dancing, playing sports, and other simple physical activities. Wearing things like a bathing suit, or just wearing fun clothes. I was basically tired of not being able to do anything and everything I wanted to do. I felt as if my weight was holding my back and preventing me from REALLY living.

Quite simply, it was just TIME to make a change.


Did you read the book Eat To Live and how did it effect you?
I did read the book. Actually, I’ve always been a sort of stickler for the rules. Dr. Fuhrman recommends everyone reads the books in its entirety before beginning the diet and I did. I even postponed starting the diet at the same time a friend of mine started it since I’d yet to finish the book.

The book affected me in the way that I was very surprised as well as horrified to learn just how crappy we Americans eat. To read the truth about so many things I considered “healthy”. Chicken for example. I was so sad to hear about many of the harmful products, additives, and hormones in many of our foods. At times I even thought it’s no wonder why so many Americans are considered overweight.

The book also inspired me. I loved reading about the many people who had successfully lost weight and who had achieved there goal weight no matter how much they had to lose. I also loved reading about those people who had been scheduled for some sort of invasive surgery as a last resort only to go on the Eat to Live diet and no longer need surgery or medication, for that matter.


What did you change about your diet and how did it affect the way you live?
I changed my diet completely. I “detoxified” my kitchen and threw out all of the processed foods I had been consuming on a daily basis. I got rid of the salt, oil, butter, dairy products, meat, and other “no-nos”. I began to eat fresh products only. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

My life was affected in the following ways: 1) I began to cook more. Before, I hardly ever cooked and did a lot of eating out. If I did happen to cook something, it was basically something quick and easy. Frozen pizza, pasta, bread and cheese, sandwiches, fast food, tuna salad with chips, french fries, and other unhealthy foods.

2) I no longer eat at restaurants. I eat all of my meals at home. I think I will eventually begin to frequent restaurants but once I’ve figured out a way where I can still maintain a healthy handle on my food intake. Restaurants tend to use a lot of the things I no longer want to eat. Oil, salt, creamy sauces, to name a few. The good thing is that in the US, there are many restaurants that are beginning to cater to health conscious people.

3) This goes along with 2, I no longer plan my social events around food. Plus, food is no longer my number one priority. I don’t plan my day around food. My meals are a way to sustain myself but they are no longer the most important part of my day. I’m taking a bigger interest in my hobbies and interests. This actually helps to keep me from giving in to my cravings. I try to do all of those things that bring me comfort and joy that don’t revolve around food and eating. I still get together with friends to watch movies, crochet, and do art, I just don’t plan these things around dinner or lunch as I used to.


What have you learned most about yourself?
I think what I’ve learned about myself is just how committed and strong willed I can be. I used to honestly think that I would forever be overweight and that I could not lose weight. I didn’t “like” diets and didn’t really believe in them but I think it’s because I was afraid to set myself up for failure. I’ve always been an overachiever and I felt that this was the one thing I would not be able to do. I learned that I do have it in me to achieve this. I also learned that for me it was not about the food. The food was just a means to an end. I used food to keep myself overweight. I DO like healthy food. I DO like vegetables and I CAN eat super healthy food. Plus, I DON’T need fast food and fatty foods.

I also learned that I’m a product of my society and my family. I was never taught the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet and the few times that it was mentioned at school with the whole “food pyramid”, it was completely misleading.

What have you learned about the world around you?
I’ve started to see just how unhealthy peoples diets really are. I line up at the grocery store and I’m amazed at what people are buying. I see how children are being taught unhealthy eating habits. I see just how unaware people are about what they put in their mouths and into their bodies. I also see how amazing and wonderful the world is without the need to eat all the time. I no longer eat all of those things I used to “enjoy” eating and I’m still enjoying my life.


What were or are the obstacles or difficulties you face with changing your diet?
I think a big one is not being able to eat at restaurants and travel is greatly affected by this. I know that eventually I WILL be able to eat at restaurants and there are ways to get around traveling while maintaining a healthy diet but I still feel a bit vulnerable and not quite ready to do it. Another thing I’ve found difficult is sticking to an eating schedule. I used to eat whenever I was hungry or when I finally had the time. Most of the time I never even ate breakfast. I would have two meals a day, lunch and dinner and as I said, they weren’t ever at a set time. I would eat late into the night and go to bed right after. I was never one to snack in between meals but I would overeat sometimes when I was very hungry.

Another biggie has been knowing what to eat and how to make it. As I’ve said before, I was never much of a cook and that has presented a few problems for me. There have been a few times where I don’t know what to make or I don’t have the drive to cook something and I will just end up skipping the meal altogether. Little by little I’m overcoming that since I have been getting cooking lessons from Ruth. I do still get anxious sometimes when I run out of stuff to eat and have to make more but every week I’ve had a lot of leftovers and have been able to survive on these delicious dishes I’ve learned to make.

Sometimes cravings pose a problem, as well. I haven’t had many cravings but sometimes I can’t think of anything but getting a big cheese burger and some onion rings with ranch dressing. Thankfully, I’m in France and I can’t really get that here. Plus, they don’t last very long, these cravings, and I just ride them out but God help me when I’m watching TV and I get a craving. I obsess about what everyone is eating.

Do you feel better/worse? Do you think you look better?
I feel GREAT! Really. I no longer have any dizziness, headaches, or “food coma” symptoms. My clothes are super loose and I can do little things like cross my legs. I don’t get very tired after a long day of teaching and climbing the stairs at the university, here in Rouen. I’ve been told my face has really thinned out and I can now notice it in the mirror. My cheekbones are more defined. I still have a long way to go but there is a marked difference which only serves to inspire me and fuel my fire. At night I sleep harder if that makes any sense. I was having a hard time sleeping but that is all changing which is great since I’ve always liked to sleep and I believe sleep is so important to one’s body and good health.

Was or is there anything about changing your diet that has surprised you?
Yes, I can REALLY taste food now. I’m constantly surprised at how sensitive my taste buds are becoming. I love the flavors of the vegetables, fruits, and nuts I’ve been eating.

I was also surprise at how easily I was able to change my diet completely and give up regular coke.

Has your decision to change your diet affected other people in your life? How?
My sister was inspired to do the diet with me. I also feel closer to people since I’ve made it a point to be more honest with myself and about my thoughts and feelings. Slowly, I’ve been exploring all of the reasons I let myself get to this weight. My sister and I created a blog where we share our experiences. Whether good or bad, these posts have served as a sort of therapy as well as further inspiration. By talking about these things, I’ve been able to process a lot of baggage I’ve been caring around. This questionnaire is a part of that and I hope that it helps other people make that first step to a better, healthier life. Courage!

Lentil - or any other bean you like - Loaf

2 cups of cooked lentils (I like the coral ones b/c they're fast and get kind of mushy, but any lentils or other unsalted cooked beans will do nicely)
Add all of the following to a large mixing bowl:
2 shredded carrots
1 shredded zuchini
1 cup of oats (not instant and preferrably organic)
1 large handful of chopped fresh basil
1 large handful of fresh chopped chives or green onions or leeks
3 small handfuls of raw sunflower seeds
1 small handful of raw sesame seeds
1 Tbspn garlic powder
2 Tbspn dried parsely
4 Tbspn of tomato paste

Mix all the ingredients together with your hands - because it's fun - and form into a loaf or you can put into a loaf pan. Moi, I just make a loaf and put on a sheet of tin foil and cook that little sucka on 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until nicely browned.

We have nutritarian friends everywhere! Meet our friend Rose. In this photo, we're making whole wheat flat breads from organic whole wheat flour and water. Those are the only two ingredients!

They're so easy and they are really good with soups and salads or stuffed with veggies like a sandwich or wrapped up with beans and veggies like burritos. They're versatile and tasty and inexpensive to make. You should try it sometime!

Rose has been studying Eat To Live and recently decided to make a life changing commitment by renovating her diet. And she's going to allow us to share some of her journey here on our blog. In fact, many of our friends are making huge and remarkable changes in their diets and each of them agreed to answer questions and share their experiences with us and you too. So you can look forward to reading about friends and family members who see the value in changing their eating practices.

In the past few weeks I have been moved to tears to see how active our friends have become in embracing a nutritarian diet. I have been truly inspired and my life has become even more rich here in France as we are now able to share more meals together, cook together and share ideas.

I have never had an experience like this and feel a sense of true community developing. It's the start of a new paradigm in a new world and I don't think we should underestimate the political voice these activities have. We're not only taking our health care into our own hands, we're creating a new community based on delicious, festive recipes prepared with friends on a regular basis.

Each person who eliminates meat from their diet, is one less person perpetuating factory farming. That means one less person buying foods which are packaged or highly processed, which means one less person making pathogenic garbage which will be thrown into the landfills. But most importantly, it means more people to share your delicious recipes and ideas with.

Seriously, eliminating risk for disease and helping to save the planet. How can you refuse this change my friends? And when you're ready, we're here. And there are so many others now to support your truly powerful decision. As powerful as your vote, maybe more so, is your decision to change your diet. It doesn't have to be personally political but if you've been inspired to improve your health by changing your diet, you will inadvertently improve the health of your nation and that is as political as anyone really needs to be.

Shredded Veggie Soup #1

Add the following to a large soup pan

2 shredded carrots

2 shredded zuchini

1 shredded eggplant

1 shredded red, green and yellow bell pepper

2 diced onions

2 minced garlic cloves

1 bunch of fresh basil, minced

Cover the veggies with water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer the soup for another 30 to 40 minutes. Add 3 humongous handfuls of sliced fresh spinach, chard or bok choy, cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat off. Allow the greens to wilt and then garnish with dried onion flakes and slices of avocado. Go make this recipe right now and eat it with a huge salad and tell us what you think.

Assignment, should you choose to participate: Go to your kitchen right now. Throw away your salt and anything in your refrigerator with salt in it. Go on, be brave.

And until next time,
Be Well Little Cell

The Thin Man

In January 2008, Ruth and I were listening to public radio in Long Beach when we heard an interview with author Mike Anderson. He referenced Dr. Joel Fuhrman and his book Eat to Live. We went out and picked it up at a bookstore and never looked back. Two years later, we are still enthusiastic followers of his advice on diet and lifestyle. The change was by all means huge. Even though we thought we were eating a good diet at the time, we soon discovered some important clues that would tell us otherwise.

I have always been thin. Since I was a kid I've hardly carried a pound of excess weight. On the contrary, I always had to work hard to put on even a few pounds of muscle through exercise and weight training. I ate whatever I wanted, absolutely anything, without ever putting on weight. Some people said I was lucky, but for me it was just my reality.

I was alway an athlete too. From the age of 6, my life was a balance of homework, practice, sports camps and summer leagues. I played college baseball and rowed crew at Long Beach. I was active and thought myself a model of health. But as I mentioned, there were subtle signs that I had been ignoring all along.

From at least the age of 18, my first year of college sports, my blood pressure had always been in the 135/85 range. Although I had no idea at the time, this was not only well above the recommended reading of 120/80, it was on the border of certified hypertension, which is defined as anything above 140/90. Doctors would sometimes ask if I had any history of hypertension in my family, but I had no idea and none of them pushed the issue.


It was only after reading Eat to Live in 2008 that I realized just how serious a threat my high blood pressure was to my overall health and longevity. It turns out they don't call it the "silent killer" for nothing:

"Truly "normal" blood pressure readings should remain below 115 over 75. A recently published meta-analysis pooling the results of 61 studies demonstrated that for every incremental increase of 20 mg of systolic blood pressure above 115, heart attack death rates doubled. High blood pressure is also associated with an increased risk of heart failure, kidney failure and strokes (CVA – cerebral vascular accidents). It also predisposes to dementia and heart arrhythmias."

In other words, my healthy waist-line measurement was just a cover for what was a serious long-term health risk. One that if left untreated would have doubled my chances of suffering a fatal heart attack or other cerebral vascular accident. I also can't help but think that at its root, my so-called "luck" at being able to eat rich, high-fat foods without fear of weight gain was almost certainly a factor in helping promote my dangerously high blood pressure:

"Over 90 percent of adult Americans who die in car accidents show atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries on autopsy. The unfortunate reality is that if you eat the Standard American Diet you will have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure when you get older. You cannot escape from the biological law of cause and effect. The Standard American Diet is simply heart attack and stroke causing."

I consider myself lucky to have stumbled across a doctor like Joel Fuhrman. Because of the numerous doctors I'd seen for sports physicals throughout my late teens and twenties, not one raised more than a slight concern at what should have been seen as a dangerously high blood pressure reading. But this is not abnormal as it turns out:

"You may have been told in the past that, if your blood pressure is below 140/90, it is normal. Unfortunately, this is not true. It is average for those above the age of 60, but certainly not normal. Being average in America means you are heavily diseased...The only reason the 140 over 90 figures had been used in the past is that it represents the midpoint of blood pressure readings of Americans older than sixty. The risk for strokes and heart attacks starts climbing at 115/75."

So to paraphrase, I had a normal blood pressure reading for a diseased American senior citizen. And this since the age of 18. How's that for a wake-up call? Needless to say, it was more than sufficient motivation for both Ruth and I to completely revolutionize our diet.

And now more than two years later, I can say that not only has my blood pressure returned to a truly healthy level (around 110/70), but I live a richer and fuller life in every way because of it. Our food is truly more delicious and nourishing than it ever was before. The lack of a future heart attack or stroke is simply one component of a new, happier and more vital life with my best friend Ruth.


Current readers of our blog will know that we've been blessed to spend the last year and a half living in the Normandy region of France. One of just a long list of dreams we plan to realize before this wonderful adventure we're sharing is over. All the more reason to stay strong and vital each step of the way. That's why we said no to heart disease and stroke.

"In the United States, about 400,000 people a year suffer from strokes. Forty percent of these strokes may be fatal, but the 60 percent that live are often doomed to a life of suffering and disability. The cost of strokes is not just measured in the billions of dollars lost in work, hospitalization and the care of survivors in nursing homes, but the major cost or impact of a stroke is the loss of an independent lifestyle that occurs in 30% of the survivors. After a stroke, a self-sustaining and enjoyable lifestyle may lose most of its quality as the person can no longer walk, feed, or express him/her self normally. The family members find themselves in a new role as caregivers; it is a true tragedy. What makes these events even more heartbreaking is that they never had to happen in the first place."

Just remember, it never has to happen for you either. Because there's a big, wide world out there that awaits you. So until next time, be well little cell.

Matthew and Ruth