“Our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health improved so suddenly and drastically that we didn’t want to go back”

By: Cassidy Gundersen

Starting at age 12 I began to experience a variety of concerning health conditions such as chronic kidney stones, debilitating PMS and menstrual cramps, migraines that would cause me to throw up in pain, and twice monthly bowel movements. The doctors assured me that I was in good health and “these things just happened to people,” so I was convinced that I was healthy (despite all of my pain) and continued eating like it. My staples were Oreos, Dr. Pepper, and Snickers. You couldn’t have paid me to eat fruit or vegetables other than perhaps potatoes, raspberries, and peaches. But I was extremely thin, and that was all that mattered to me at the time.

As I grew up, I lived a busy and active life and was very involved. My health began to take a turn for the worst when I was Miss Idaho in 2012. I was on the road a lot and began eating worse than I already had been. I noticed that my mental and physical health were waning, but I was determined to serve a full-time mission.

After leaving to Canada in 2013 for my mission, the complications only worsened. I was barely able to get out of bed after 12 hours of sleep, and I was in the hospital more times than I can count. I had MRI’s, ultrasounds, colonoscopies, and countless blood samples drawn in an attempt to get to the core of the issue. More than one time the mission doctor and my mission president tried to send me home to get better, but I was more stubborn than I was sick, and I refused!

It was on my mission that I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a diagnosis that would change my life. After my diagnosis, I was downhearted and began reading my Patriarchal blessing. I became angry as I read it because my blessing spoke of the Word of Wisdom and the health I would have by obedience to it. I was confused because I never smoked, I never drank tea, coffee or alcohol, nor did I do drugs, yet I wasn’t seeing any of the blessings I was promised. I had given some thought to the Word of Wisdom since one of my companions informed me that she didn’t eat meat because of the Doctrine and Covenants 89. However, I was convinced she was extreme and was sure that I knew better.

Fast forward a year, and I was home from my mission and still as sick as ever. I knew something had to change but didn’t know where to begin. One day as I was visiting with my gastroenterologist, I asked him for a list of foods to avoid and foods to focus on for my disease. He informed me that food wouldn’t affect my digestion, and I should just focus on the meds. That didn’t sit well with me, so I went home and began studying nutrition. I quickly fell in love with what I was learning. I began my journey by simply reading blogs and articles online, watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts. From all of the influencers and popular blogs I was reading, it appeared that a Keto or Paleo diet was ideal for human consumption.

By this time I was married to my amazing husband who jumped at the opportunity to eat meat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So we embraced this lifestyle and we hit the ground running! I lost 10 lbs rather quickly and began having a little bit more energy, I felt better than I had in years and assumed this was as good as it would get for me!

But within 6 months I realized that while I saw improvements, I had just switched one set of problems for another. I began to experience hemorrhoids and other digestive problems, brain fog, skin irritations, headaches, and more. Not to mention I was spending far too much money on groceries.

By this time I was so in love with the world of nutrition, that I decided to go back and get my Master’s and PhD in health and nutrition. As I began studying nutrition in school, it became painstakingly obvious to me that there was a proper way to eat. Study after study and biological function after biological function, I saw the data proved that there was one diet superior to the rest. Our bodies were made to eat primarily whole plant-based foods.

However, I was obstinate. What the data suggested was a far cry from how my family was eating at the time. Eating a Ketogenic diet meant we primarily consumed meat and dairy. We enjoyed our way of life and felt good, so we had no desire to change! It was then that I saw a book about the Word of Wisdom from Dr. Christopher, an herbalist and former member of the Seventy. In his book, he mentions the use of meat in relation to our obedience and health. I was floored! I had heard this idea before from my “extreme” companion on my mission, but had never thought it would be supported by a General Authority!

That night I turned to Doctrine and Covenants 89 and carefully read through each verse, desperately searching for some more answers. As I read the revelation in its entirety, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The answer was in the scriptures all along, and I never saw it! The Creator of the world and each of our bodies specifically laid out the ideal plan for human health. Yet, for so many years I had ignored this revelation in relation to my personal health. I began reading any book or talk I could get my hands on that talked about the Word of Wisdom and sure enough, this principle was there time and time again, starting with Joseph and Hyrum Smith!

I figured it was time we gave this new plant-based thing a good, honest try. My husband assured me that he would never go plant-based, but agreed he would do a trial run with me for 2 weeks. When that 2 weeks was over, he changed his mind. We had never felt so good in our entire lives! Our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health improved so suddenly and drastically that we didn’t want to go back. We have fully embraced the plant-based lifestyle ever since!

After yielding to the admonitions in Section 89, I saw my health improve in drastic ways that I didn’t know were possible. Not only did I reverse chronic health conditions, but I found that I had more energy and stamina. Now, when I say reverse chronic health conditions, I mean it! My last bloodwork came back with nosigns of any disease or complications. Additionally, I found that I was more attentive and alert, and perhaps the most rewarding, I found that I was more sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit.

I was so excited by the positive changes that I began a business using my professional skills as a nutritionist, health coach, health practitioner as well as my education to help other people properly implement a plant based lifestyle and get healthier.

One of the greatest blessings of my life was discovering the Word of Wisdom. It has changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I have a testimony of the “hidden treasures” that can be found in obeying the Word of Wisdom in its entirety. Since adopting this lifestyle my eyes have been opened to many mysteries of the gospel that I otherwise would not have been privy to. I have also experienced more physical and mental health and strength than I thought was possible. I believe that the stated blessings as well as blessings untold are available to all those that obey the Word of Wisdom with exactness!

Cassidy Gundersen, 27, is a doctoral student completing her PhD in health and nutrition in 2019. She and her husband live American Fork, Utah with their toddler and new baby. Cassidy is a sought after speaker who travels the United States speaking about a whole food, plant-based diet nutrition and the Word of Wisdom. She is the author of Transition to Healthcookbook. Her second book, And the Destroying Angel Shall Pass By Them, will be released soon. As owner of Spiro Health and Wellness Cassidy is a nutritionist, holistic health practitioner and health coach. She is currently offering all Discovering the Word of Wisdom readers and subscribers $50 off her personal coaching package. You can contact Cassidy at cassidy@spirohealthandwellness.com or visit her website.

See also the WFPB story of Cassidy’s father-in-law, Troy Gundersen.