By: Teresa Starr
My whole food, plant-based (WFPB) journey spans over 25 years. It has included twists and turns, ups and downs and has ultimately blessed my life beyond measure. In fact, I believe that the plant-based eating plan is the very reason I’m still here to tell my story.
In the early 1990s, when I was 29 years old and a young mom of 3 active little boys, I began having TIAs (transient ischemic attacks), sometimes called mini-strokes. During those episodes, I would temporarily lose all vision in my left eye. It was as if someone controlled my vision with a dimmer switch and gradually turned it off until I had a total black out – 100% blindness in my left eye. These transient episodes of blindness came on with no warning. Most episodes would last between one and five minutes. The longest one lasted 60 full, frightening minutes.
I had a family history of heart disease and high blood pressure (and my own personal history of extremely high blood pressure during child birth). The scary thing about TIAs is that studies indicate that 30% of people who suffer from TIAs end up having a full-blown stroke within 5 years. That was a very disconcerting thought because we had three little boys and were hoping to have more children. Raising our family was our top priority. My doctor put me on Coumadin, nitroglycerin (during TIAs) and one baby aspirin per day to thin my blood. I was also told to never take estrogen (because of my increased risk of stroke).
In addition to my family history, I had a few other strikes against me. Even though my weight was within a normal range, my cholesterol and triglycerides were always very high. At the time we were also under much stress and anguish because of a very serious health condition one of our kids was going through. The health challenges of our sweet little boy spanned several years and left us heartbroken (and broke).
After several years of facing our challenges, I was getting very worn out physically, emotionally and spiritually. The disturbing TIAs had continued to happen at random times and places even though I was following the doctor’s advice. One day my husband, Rick, told me that a friend at work had started a whole food, plant-based diet to improve his health. Together we studied the benefits of eating this new way. Still suffering from random episodes of total blindness in my left eye, I was ready to try anything, especially if it meant that I could live a healthy life and be a fully functioning mom, capable of raising our sweet boys.
From all of our studies, we concluded that a plant-based diet really did make sense. Still, I wanted to know how the Lord felt about it. I was so grateful to find and read The Word of Wisdom Food Plan by Kenneth E. Johnson, M.D. That book gave me the courage and the spiritual confirmation I needed to make some major lifesaving changes. Up until reading that book, I wasn’t sure if Heavenly Father approved of a plant-based diet. Upon reading the book, it became clear that the Word of Wisdom actually supports a plant-based diet. That book was truly an answer to my prayers. It helped me to know that God was actually “pleased” (see D&C 89:13) with my new way of eating and with my desire to care for my body. I am so grateful for the body which the Lord has given me. It is my vehicle through this mortal life, and I have a stewardship to care for it to the very best of my ability.
After reading Dr. Johnson’s book, I was able to see section 89 or the Doctrine and Covenants with new eyes. Most people quote what the Word of Wisdom says in verse 89:12 (that the Lord has given us flesh of beasts and fowls of the air for our use). Yet, many people overlook the key words found in the first part of verse 13. Speaking of the beasts of the field, the Lord clearly states, “It is pleasing unto me that they should not be used.” He goes on to explain that these things were to be used with thanksgiving, and only in times of excessive need. The Lord doesn’t want us to starve and has given meat as a last resort food (Lehi and his family had no choice but to eat raw meat – as a last resort). In our day, we’re not experiencing famine and we can be assured that it is “pleasing unto [the Lord] that they should not be used.”
I am so grateful for the body which the Lord has given me. It is my vehicle through this mortal life, and I have a stewardship to care for it, to the very best of my ability. On my new eating plan, I cut out all animal products, including dairy. I also cut out sugar and white flour. I ate whole grains, legumes (beans), fruits and vegetables. Oat bran and oatmeal were my morning “must haves” to help lower my cholesterol (see video on oatmeal).
Within a couple of months of eating a strict plant-based diet (including 1 – 2 servings of oat bran per day) my TIAs stopped – completely stopped. Once I knew that the TIAs were gone for a significant amount of time, I was able to go off of the blood thinners with no reoccurrence of TIAs. The great news was that, even without blood thinners, I was free from my episodes of blindness.
A year later I became pregnant (this time with a girl – yay!). We were very excited because during the several months of TIAs, we weren’t sure I would be able to have any more kids.
At about six months into my pregnancy, I had let my eating habits slip back to the more traditional Standard American Diet (SAD), which many in my generation had grown up with. During the early morning sickness months of pregnancy I made the mistake of eating a lot of highly processed foods, just to be able to keep something in my system. Once morning sickness was over, I’d fallen back into bad habits of eating the traditional Standard American Diet (cheese, hot dogs, and an occasional brownie were my favs!) I didn’t think I was overindulging’ I just didn’t make much effort to avoid those foods. At one of my monthly doctor appointments I was told that my cholesterol was 260. Around the same time, I started having TIAs again (episodes of 100% blindness – this time it happened in either eye). Because I was pregnant, I couldn’t take blood thinners, so I went straight back to the whole foods plant-based diet. Within a couple of months my TIAs went completely away, and I have never had one since. Our daughter is now 25 years old. I’m so grateful to have found a Word of Wisdom supported way of eating that bypassed my natural genetic weakness and blessed me with the good health needed to raise our 5 kids.
For most of those years I enjoyed the benefits of eating a wholesome WFPB diet. Unfortunately, there were a couple times when I drifted from my plant-based eating plan and suffered the consequences. Ten years after our daughter was born, I started to become less vigilant in my eating plan. I didn’t completely pig out, but I did start eating small amounts of meat, cheese, dairy and an occasional treat. We moved from Arizona to Utah so I thought that this justified me eating meat again (“times of winter and cold” was my justification). Over time I gained 8 pounds. I also noticed that my blood pressure began to gradually get higher. In my mid-forties I began to have random, extreme blood pressure spikes, for no apparent reason. Within minutes my blood pressure could raise from a mildly high blood pressure of 135/90 to very high 190/117. These random spikes happened sometimes at the most unexpected times (like when I was watching a movie with my family, or eating lunch with friends, etc.). This went on for about 7 years.
Now in middle age, I felt it critical that I get my blood pressure under control (I wanted to enjoy the best health possible, despite my age, genetics, and my personal and family history). And of course, I wanted to be around to watch our grandkids grow up. In 2013, after being off the plan for about eight years, I returned to a whole food plant-based diet, including my daily oatmeal and regular exercise (30 – 75 minutes per day 5x per week). With no effort to lose weight, only an effort to eat the right foods, I easily dropped 10 pounds and I’m back to my normal weight. I’ve also been free from the blood pressure super spikes for a couple of years now. The other improvement I’ve made is through practicing tools of positivity, gratitude, and emotional intelligence. Just as food feeds the body, our thoughts feed our mind. Having set the intention, I find that I am able to maintain a more positivity mindset, even in challenging times. Eating right, getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and disciplining my thoughts has made a big difference in my health and wellbeing.
With a natural tendency toward high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and a family history of heart disease, one might say that my genetics are against me; and maybe they are. Nevertheless, I am determined not to give in nor give up. If I can make these lifestyle changes to enjoy more mental and physical health and wellness, anyone can do it. It’s really not that hard and the payoff is huge! Feeling good and being able to “run and not be weary and walk and not faint” means everything to me!
I’ve heard it said that genetics loads the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. I’m choosing to live a lifestyle that overrides my genetics and dodges the trigger. Through habits of health and positivity I plan on living a long, healthy, happy and positivity life – at least as long as the Lord will let me!
I’m grateful for the Word of Wisdom which guides us to choose the best foods to sustain our health and wellbeing and reminds us that our loving Heavenly Father has given us this beautiful earth and an abundance of delicious whole foods which are to give us health and strength and gladden our hearts. I love knowing that this way of eating both blesses my life and pleases the Lord! On a very personal level, the Lord’s law of health has truly saved my life, and I am forever grateful for the principles that have allowed me to raise my family and live life to the fullest.
Teresa Starr (57) lives in Centerville Utah. Her favorite role in life is to be a wife, mother, and grandmother. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She and her husband Rick are certified Positive Psychology Practitioners, Positive Educators, Trained Life Coaches, and People Code Facilitators. They host a website/blog/podcast called Positivity Life and are also building a website for Latter-day Saint/Christian audiences, called, Flourishing Families of Faith. Their website, podcast, and Facebook pages are all about helping people to live a positivity lifestyle. Topics include: nutrition, fitness, mental wellness, positivity, gratitude, growth mindset, resilience, and building quality relationships.
Teresa’s experience is especially valuable because she has been doing this for so long. I’m touched that her love for her family and desire to raise her children (and have more) gave her the courage to totally change her diet. That is not easy to do, or to stick with. Now, over 25 years later, she is a real testament to the power of whole plant foods. She has discovered the hidden treasures in the Word of Wisdom, and she is pointing the way for the rest of us. Thanks so much, Teresa!