Today is one of those 'Living My Ikigai' Days!
Nivi Jaswal-Wirtjes, MBA, NBC-HWC ??
Research Innovator ? Social Entrepreneur ? Board Certified - Health and Wellness Coaching (Mayo Clinic) ? Whole Food Plant-Based Investor ? Unilever, Boston Scientific, WPP Alumna
Today is a momentous day. I got to speak with Dr Caldwell Esselstyn Jr, one of my idols and one of the world’s pioneer cardiac surgeons (at Cleveland Clinic) who conclusively demonstrated “Nutrition Reversal of Atherosclerosis with a Whole Foods Plant Based (no oil) approach†in a longitudinal human study, with subjects who were turned away from hospitals as their Diabetes Specialists, Nephrologists, Endocrinologists & Cardiologists ran out of pharmacological & surgical options for their chronic illness.
Consulting with him on an unfortunate (and very personal) case, Dr Esselstyn’s advice - to me today and from his earlier published work - will stay with me forever and I wanted to share here:
1. Cardio metabolic disease is entirely preventable & avoidable (Diabetes: Gestational & other types, Cardiovascular Disease, Kidney Dysfunction, Polycystic Ovarian Disease, Endometriosis and the list goes on and on)
2. Resistance to the idea of “Whole Foods Plant Based†approach stems from deeply embedded, industry-reinforced sociocultural beliefs about Dairy, Eggs, Meat & especially Refined Oil. The “resistance†comes from the “belief†- NOT from unbiased science.
3. Pseudo Science & Corporate-sponsored Science isn’t necessarily the most sanitary source of nutrition advice. Challenge yourself and find out who’s the sponsor of the study, what’s their motivation and who’s benefiting in the value chain!
4. Food you put in your mouth can either heal you. Or, poison you. Just the way it serves us well to watch what comes out of our mouths, it’s critical to reflect on What we eat & Why we eat. Our relationship with Food is way more emotional than we’d like to admit.
5. Start NOW - start where you are! Start before your body gives up on you. It’s meant to last a lifetime - make it a happy & healthy one. Reach out for Plant-Based support, have a plan for you & your family and stick to it like your life & theirs depended on it - because, guess what? Your life & their lives does depend on it.
Resources for those who consider themselves curious, open minded and willing to learn - or all of the above -
- Watch: Forks over Knives (Netflix, YouTube)
- Read: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease - Dr Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. OR, another very well written and fun book called How Not To Die - Dr Michael Greger
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5 å¹´This is such important work Nivi! Thank you for sharing your insights, conversations with medical providers, and solid resources backed by science. We can do so much to right the way for millions of us through good nutrition. You leadership on this front will make a difference!?