When should you start changing your diet to a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) one? The answer is simple: Start now. There’s no better time to begin eating for health, healing and longevity. You don’t have to wait until you fall sick or until the New Year. Each meal is a new opportunity to nourish your body better. A Whole-Food Plant-Based diet means eating foods close to their natural form — fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds — while avoiding refined foods, oils and animal products. It is a way of eating that supports your body’s ability to repair, protect and even reverse disease. Before you start, consider your health goals. Are you trying to manage weight, control blood sugar, lower blood pressure or simply feel more energetic? Also, talk to your doctor if you are on medication — because your health may improve so quickly that medicine doses might need adjustment. Planning ahead helps you avoid confusion when it’s time to shop or cook. If your family still enjoys meat, don’t worry. Change gently. Replace meat in familiar dishes with beans, lentils or mushrooms. Add more vegetables and fruits to family meals. Let your own health improvements — better energy, lighter feeling, clearer skin — speak for themselves. Remember, you don’t need to force anyone to change; people are inspired more by results than by arguments.
You may begin to feel changes within two weeks — improved digestion, lighter meals and better sleep. After a month or two, weight and blood sugar levels often start improving. Within three to six months, many people notice reduced pain, sharper minds and better endurance. The body begins to heal once you give it real food. As nutrition scientist Dr T. Colin Campbell puts it:“There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants.” It’s never too late to start. Just begin — one plate at a time.
