WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- "We have carrots and celery which we don't usually see in tacos". Tacos without meat? It's one of the recipes whipped up in a Vegan class at Nutrition Smart Health Food Store in Palm Beach Gardens every week. Vegans avoid dairy, eggs and any meat products. Rene Oswald is the author of Transitioning To Living Cuisine. She started her vegan path 15 years ago, eventually becoming a raw vegan. "I had a rare incurable digestive disorder and I was a nurse and worked in the medical field and when they told me there was nothing they could do for me but give me 23 medications to relieve my symptoms I said wow. I need to look at what I can do, alternative wise". Oswald turned to eating foods in their natural state and avoided processed foods.
Her student Elsa Perez also made the change after battling breast and thyroid cancer. She and others found it not only helped them medically, but also helped them lose weight. "Since 2 1/2 years I've lost 20 pounds it was hard in the beginning so I had to change my whole kitchen". Brenda Geesy says she has seen a change in her health."Well my husband had a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery, I had a sister with cancer and we started looking at changing our diet big time. I have six children, been married 33 years and I actually weigh less now than when we got married".
Another place people are turning to is the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach. Dr. Brian Clement says: "Many come here with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and an array of other problems". The institute is known for its tasty buffet meals and offers health care education. Clement says the diet can reduce your chances of serious health problems. "If you are 55 years old or younger 50 percent of that population is this country will contract cancer in their life".
Registered dietician Judy Cooper weighs in on the vegan diet."Eating your nuts and seeds and grains and lots of fruits and veggies it's definitely a healthy diet. You want to be careful with vitamin B-12 that's only in animal foods but if you have nutritional yeast or fortified cereal, soy milk or soy products or supplements you will get enough". She says you should also make sure you are getting enough calcium from the dark, leafy vegetables and don't forget vitamin D. Seeds and beans can provide protein.
Rene Oswald, author of Transitioning To Living Cuisine
http://www.reneoswald.com/
Hippocrates Health Institute
1443 Palmdale Court West Palm Beach
561-471-8876
