Many people ask why I’m so passionate about plant-based nutrition. I’m happy to share my experience, although I like to point out that research (rather than any anecdotal report, including mine) should guide your nutrition decisions. If my story inspires you to learn more about the blossoming field of research highlighting the connection between what we eat and our health, I’ll be grateful.

As a master-prepared nurse with over 20 years of wellness experience, I thought I knew about nutrition—until my active, seemingly healthy husband had a sudden, totally unexpected heart attack. After a triple bypass, he was advised to go home and “keep doing what he’d been doing.” Since he’d been a regular exerciser, was of normal weight and we ate what most would consider a relatively healthy diet, he questioned his doctor’s advice. Doing what he’d been doing resulted in a heart attack and continuing that same path seemed to spell more plaque buildup. We were feeling rather hopeless.

It was only when we discovered the emerging body of research exploring the connection between heart disease and diet and the proven reversal of heart disease did we begin to feel more hopeful and confident he could gain control. He embraced a whole food plant-based diet and successfully resumed the scuba diving, skiing and all the activities he enjoys His blood pressure and cholesterol went down and the 20 pound weight loss we both enjoyed was another bonus.

Meanwhile I was gobbling up nutritional research studies as avidly as the delicious plant-based meals we were enjoying. I earned a certificate in plant-based nutrition and began volunteering for Dr. Michael Greger’s NutritionFacts.org site.

Using my teaching background I also began developing programs that share the “why” and “how” of eating whole plant-based foods. As a former cruise lecturer, I’d learned the value of “edutainment” to entertain while educating audiences, sharing the encouraging message that getting old doesn’t have to mean getting sick and that your genes are NOT your destiny.