“I realized I loved how I was feeling”

By: Kimberly Smith

In May of 2015 I found myself at the ER with a kidney stone. After a couple of weeks, imaging, and doctor appointments, it was determined the stone was too large to pass on its own. I was scheduled for surgery, shockwave lithotripsy. This surgery failed and a month later I had another surgery, ureteroscopy. A few weeks after the surgeries I had a follow-up doctor’s appointment. I was surprised to learn that lab results showed that my kidney function was less than optimal.

This was a little shocking to me. I had always been health conscious. As a nurse I had worked in long-term care facilities and realized I wanted to take care of my health so I could enjoy my later years. Never had I not followed the don’ts of the Word of Wisdom. I ground my own wheat, had meatless meals regularly, and fed my family as well as I knew how. The one health problem plaguing me had been GERD, and I had taken proton pump inhibitors regularly for a while and then off and on for years. Looking back, that probably played a role in my kidney problems.

The advice from my nephrologist rang familiar. He said, “Don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, limit your caffeine, eat less meat, and follow up with me in a year.” I walked away from that appointment thinking, “What more can I do?” I’ve never had alcohol or smoked. I haven’t had soda in years and purposefully don’t drink anything with caffeine. I had limited my red meat consumption to about once a week. What I didn’t know was that dairy is essentially “liquid meat.” I had replaced most of my meat with cheese and was eating a lot of high fat meals which was causing weight gain and GERD.

The same week that I had that doctor’s appointment, my then 14-year-old son came bounding down the stairs on Sunday with his scriptures in his hand. He had been reading D&C 89, the Word of Wisdom.  He asked me “Mom, why do we eat so much meat?” I looked at him, he looked at me, and I said, “I don’t know.” Later that day I reread D&C 89 and started researching.

I don’t know which came first, finding Dr. McDougall and watching Forks Over Knives or finding Jane Birch and reading Discovering the Word of Wisdom. It was likely all in the same week. I had taken two nutrition classes in college and was stuck on the concept of needing to eat meat for health. I realized I needed to take it to the Lord. After praying and pondering for a few days, I reread D&C 89. When I read verse 13 I felt the spirit flow through me:

And it is pleasing unto me that they [the flesh of beasts] should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

The thought came to me that the Lord would not be pleased with anything that wouldn’t be good for me. It was then I decided to try it for two weeks. I know I should have been a convert just from reading that scripture, but I think it was uncharted territory for me, and I didn’t want to commit 100% yet.

Towards the end of the two weeks I was feeling great. I’m a runner, and I was feeling fantastic while running and getting faster. I decided to continue for another week. Towards the end of that week while I was out for a run I realized I loved how I was feeling, that I didn’t want to ever eat meat or dairy again, and that I needed to have a conversation with my husband to break it to him.

The first six months to a year, was a huge learning curve as I searched for recipes, learned new cooking skills, and had to shift my thinking on preparing meals. I remember sitting down to eat a potato with lentil chili and realized I was feeling guilty for eating so many carbs! I knew in my head it was healthier, but I still had leftover conceptions that needed changing.

I quit needing medication for GERD immediately after eliminating dairy from my diet. Last time I had a follow-up appointment with the nephrologist, I still had kidney stones (once they form, they don’t just go away), but no new ones had formed. More importantly, I now have no problems with kidney function. This gives me peace since I have a family history of kidney failure and grandparents who have been on dialysis.

My son who came down the stairs that one Sunday after reading the Word of Wisdom also embraces whole food, plant-based eating. He is currently on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is doing his best to eat well. The rest of my family supports me wholeheartedly and eats very healthy, although meat and dairy are still a part of their diet. They enjoy many plant-based meals and are happy to try new foods and new ways to eat their old favorites.

I am now four years into whole food, plant-based and have reaped all the physical and spiritual benefits. I lost 30 pounds in 3 1/2 months when I first started. I gained some of it back while stress eating during the pandemic, but now I’m losing that weight. Going back to the standard American diet is no temptation for me. I would never want to give up the good health I experience as well as the closeness to the spirit.

Kimberly Smith is 53 years old. She lives in Vienna, Virginia with her husband, Frank. They have six sons, 3 daughters-in-law, and 2 grandsons. Kimberly’s educational background is in nursing, but she has been at home for 28 years. She is currently a seminary teacher. She loves hiking, running, biking, playing the piano and singing. She is an avid reader and considers herself an amateur historian.