What I believe and why I do what I do

There's a reason I've been sending Take Control Tuesday emails since 2013.  I want to see you succeed and I want you to know the truth about what's possible for your health.

I want to see you improve your health because I know you can.  I know results are possible that, at some point in time, maybe you didn't know existed.

You're probably use to hearing me say that heart disease can be reversed by diet and exercise.  Both Dr. Ornish and Dr. Esselstyn have published their intervention studies reversing America's number one killer.  

But, I want you think back to a time when you didn't know this.  Back when you didn't know that type II diabetes was reversible, or when you didn't know that weight loss is possible by actually eating more food.  

Before you knew it was possible to get off cholesterol meds or reverse cancer what did you think about your health destiny?  Did you think you were destined for type II diabetes because your dad died of it?  Did you think you had to just finally get good at eating less to get your body and health back to what it looked like when you had your first child?

This is one reason why I do what I do and why Trisha's Healthy Table exists.

Myself and the Trisha's Healthy Table team, want you and and everyone else to know, that the scientific evidence, for decades, has been showing that diet has such a profound impact on health.  

Even if you don't want to do anything with this information, even if you have zero desire to attempt any of the beneficial lifestyle changes, that's totally fine.  That's you're decision.  But what I'm not okay with, is restricting this information from you or anyone else.  I won't ever restrict the optimal evidence based on an assumption that you or anyone can't or won't make a change, especially a plant-based one.  Doctors do this.  Leading health agencies and pharmaceutical companies do this too.  I think that's crap and that's not what we're about.  

We also believe (we know) that healthy, plant-based food can taste freakin' phenomenal.  We want people to know that eating healthy, plant based food doesn't taste like tree bark and that it can taste just as good or better, than traditional American food.  

We believe everyone should have access to eating these meals whether you're making them at home, or having someone else cook them for you.   

We believe you have the right to know this information exists -- that plant-based food tastes great and you can learn how to cook it, and eat it, in a way you can love.  

That's it.  That's why we're here.

Now I want to hear your thoughts.  Here's what I want to know...

1.  How has knowing this evidence changed your life?  
2.  What frustrates you most about the ignorance or restricting of plant-based nutrition evidence to prevent and reverse certain chronic diseases?

Let me know my clicking 'comment' below.  

We're in this for you.  We're rooting for you.  You can do this.

Love and Leafy Greens,

Trish
 

10 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

I love Thanksgiving.  Growing up, my family drove 1.5 hours every year to Staten Island.  We enjoyed an absolutely amazing meal at my Aunt Sue and Uncle Richie's her.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are centered around Thanksgiving and this time in New York.  My brother Tim's nickname Timothy Turkey originated from my Uncle Richie's jokes at the Thanksgiving dinner table.  I'll never gorget how my little brother would make the largest plate of food you'd ever see and then before he'd eat it, swirl and mix it all together.  On black Friday we'd then take the Staten Island ferry into Manhattan and enjoy broadway plays or dinner in Little Italy.

One of the only writing assignments I remember of my childhood is embedded in my brain because of Thanksgiving.  I even remember learning what an adjective is and how to use them writing about Thanksgiving.  I was one of the only students in the class (which didn't happen often) that understood how to use adjectives to describe an appetizing Thanksgiving dinner.  And it's because of the amazing food my Aunt Sue would make every year that I could describe the sweet, crunchy taste of the slivered almonds on glazed green beans.  I can still remember the embarrassment and slight excitement I felt as the teacher read my Thanksgiving dinner essay aloud to my entire 7th grade class.

I first saw Dr. T Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. discuss the research of plant-based nutrition in 2005, just a few weeks before Thanksgiving.  My very first two weeks of attempting to eat a plant-based diet was during Thanksgiving!  Can you imagine?  I "failed" miserably -- I didn't give my Aunt Sue a heads-up, had no idea what I could've eaten instead and came completely empty-handed.  So once I saw that cheesy spinach dip, it was on!  

It's been over 10 years now and I've enjoyed many healthy and delicious vegan Thanksgiving dinners and so can you!  Now that we're in week 3 serving Trisha's Healthy Table meals to-go, our supporters are starting to ask if we're making Thanksgiving meals.  The short answer is "oh yes." In doing research for our menu, I came across 10 vegan Thanksgiving recipes that you could add to your table whether we make food for you or not.

10 Healthy, Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

*Some of these recipes use oil although non of them use more than 4 TB which can easily by omitted especially if it's 1 TB needed to saute.  Learn how to saute without oil here.  It's easy!

1.  Festival Kale Salad with Sweet Apple cinnamon vinaigrette and pecan parmesan by OhSheGlows.com  I've made this recipe from her cookbook and it's honestly the best kale salad I've ever had and it uses a low-fat dressing that tastes so good.

2.  3 ingredient cranberry sauce from IsaChandra.com

3.  Southern style cornbread dressing by FatFreeVegan.com  Originally from the South, this chef knows how to make traditional Southern recipes healthy without compromising flavor. 

4.  Simple vegan stuffing from MinimalistBaker.com

5.  Cauliflower mashed potatoes with creamy mushroom gravy from MinimalistBaker.com 

6.  Butternut pecan sweet potato casserole from MinimalistBaker.com

7.  Meatless loaf by FatFreeVegan.com  This is an oil-free and delicious look "meat loaf".  

8.  Lentil loaf with a maple sweetened glaze from eatingbirdfood.com (love that name).

9.  Pumpkin pie from Cathy Fisher.  I love all of her recipes.  They're tasty but she only uses whole plant foods when she cooks.  She makes some of the healthiest and tastiest recipes.

10.  No bake almond butter cup bars  These aren't a traditional Thanksgiving dessert that I'm use to, but they look so good I just had to share.

Take Control Now

What's one plant-based recipe you could incorporate into your Thanksgiving dinner this year?  What would you like to see Erik cook for Trisha's Healthy Table meals this Thanksgiving?

Answer by clicking 'comment' below.

Why total cholesterol is more important than HDL or LDL levels

I wasn't surprised, but I was disappointed when I got a call from the hospital a month ago.  
I got a call because my HDL cholesterol was low and they needed to let me know.  I chuckled to myself when they called.  I wasn't concerned (at all).  

Why was my HDL cholesterol low?  I mean, I'm a nutritionist for Pete's sake!

I should really say "low" though.  I wasn't concerned because the nurse from the hospital who drew my blood earlier that month, isn't use to seeing total cholesterol numbers being in such good shape as mine.  Which, is why my HDL levels are low.  

My total cholesterol is under 100 mg/dL, so my HDL is naturally going to be lower because there's not as much bad cholesterol or LDL to get rid of in my body.  I simply don't need as much HDL.

It's unfortunate, but many health care practitioners don't fully understand when HDL and LDL levels are and aren't important.  This can be potentially detrimental to patients (or you).  For example, if someone has a high HDL level, a physician may give a patient a false sense of security that they're in good shape, when in reality, they may not be.

In today's blog video, I share what is and isn't important when it comes to cholesterol levels and what you should be aiming for with your numbers and why.

Once you finish watching the episode be sure to tell me... what still confuses you when it comes to cholesterol?  Anything I can answer for you?

Answer by clicking 'comment' below.

Take Control Now Question

What still confuses you when it comes to cholesterol?  Anything I can answer for you?

Answer by clicking 'comment' below.

How dried fruit can impede on weight-loss

Raisins and dried fruit can be sneaky little devils.  They can be very deceiving and you wouldn’t even know it.  Yes, raisins, they can trick you (and treat you too).

How can raisins trick you?

They’re missing something they were naturally “born with” which has transformed them into deceptive, shriveled grapes.

Today I’m going to tell you what they’re missing but more importantly how raisins and dried fruit can affect weight-loss or weight-gain.

You'll learn a simple rule that may leave you with a big “aha moment” after it’s explained to you about raisins (and their and mom’s).  You may also realize from today’s video that you’re doing something that’s seemingly healthy by eating raisins, but in actuality, they may be impeding on your weight-loss goals.  Or, maybe not.

Learn my recommendation for “the best way to eat dried fruit” and why, here, on today’s blog.  You’ll learn why I think raisins are tricky little treaty foods (I love Halloween).

This recommendation is so simple yet productive it’s awesome.  Whenever I teach this in one of my workshops, there’s always a lot of “oooookay, yes that makes sense” and “oh I never realized that” from the audience.  

After you watch the video, be sure to leave a comment...

“Do you have a dried fruit habit you’ll now change after watching this video?”

Can’t wait to hear from you in the comments.  

The 3 Simplest Diet Changes You Can Make for the Greatest Health Results

Now it's time to hear from you...  "What dream health result do you want for yourself?"  Do you want your knees to never hurt again and be able to run 15 miles?  Do you want to wake up energized and know you won't lose a limb to diabetes like your father did?  Do you dream of having a lean and toned body that you're happy in everyday?

Please share your insights and thoughts by clicking 'comment' below.