Cyd Notter

Author and Nutrition Educator, Founder of The "Plan A" Diet™

Cindi R. – Reversed blocked carotid artery

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Testimonial by Cindi R.

In February of 2010, a chance screening at a local church changed my life forever when an ultrasound revealed a 90% blockage of my right carotid artery.  My physicians referred to me as a mystery.  Having never smoked even a single cigarette in the 55 years of my life, I maintained perfect “numbers”.  --My cholesterol fell into a small percentage of patients my primary care physician had labeled as “perfect” The same was true of my weight and fitness level.  A seasoned half-marathoner, I consumed what I believed to be an incredibly healthy diet, and was preparing to run another event.  Despite all of this, I found myself being wheeled into surgery the following month.  The carotid endarterectomy (surgical removal of plaque) left me with an arterial graft and 100% blood flow through that artery.  Mission accomplished!  --Or so I thought.  I left the nationally- recognized hospital on a low dose statin & aspirin, anxious to move forward with my recovery and resume my active lifestyle.

At my postoperative evaluation six months later I learned that my recently-cleared artery was beginning to show signs of blockage, once again leaving my physicians perplexed.     And leaving me frustrated.  One year postoperatively an ultrasound indicated that the blockage had worsened to approximately 60%.  What more could I do?!

As I began to consider my options it appeared to me that I had only one card left to play-- for I was already the model patient, exhibiting no risk factors for premature atherosclerosis.   I began to reflect on a class on an Anti-Inflammation diet which I had taken months earlier.  The class, taught by Cyd Notter, introduced me to a host of authors, rationales, and recipes for a plant-based diet free of oils.  The media at the time was also abuzz with news of former President Clinton’s success in reversing his cardiovascular disease with the assistance of Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (both are leaders in plant-based research and practice).  By following what they coin as a “reversal diet”--eating nothing with a mother, no oils, seeds, or nuts--our former president touted significant weight loss and gains in his health.  After months of consideration, I took the plunge into the world of a plant-based, whole grain diet.  And I haven’t looked back.

After six months on the reversal diet, my carotid ultrasound showed a slight regression (reversal) of the previous blockage.  One year later, slightly more regression was noted. My physicians, pleased with my progress, endorsed my decision to pursue management of my disease with diet only---no more statins!

Cyd has become a valuable resource and friend.  As a plant-based nutrition coach, she has guided me through some of the challenges of meal planning, evaluation of nutritional balance in my diet, etc.  As a friend, she has provided me with the oft-needed encouragement to stay the course when confronted by doubters.  During all of this time I have felt fabulous and have had the energy needed to fuel my distance running, proudly (!) completing my first marathon in November 2013.

Our household is a “kitchen divided”, as my husband finds it unpalatable to sacrifice his All-American diet.  But he would agree that “the proof has been in the pudding”.  --In this case, the soy pudding.                                                         ~ Cindi, Momence IL

Thank you, Cindi!  Your testimony is so powerful because as you mention, you were the picture of health…. trim, active, and with ‘perfect’ cholesterol numbers.  I guess what Dr. McDougall says is true:  Diet trumps all.  Your commitment to reversing your blockage through a plant-based diet has inspired me beyond words.  You are actually the one encouraging ME, my friend!       ~Cyd

Doug M. – Doc Says Cured

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My Health Journey - Doug Milstead

September 5, 2014 at 8:25pm

First, I must say that this journey towards better health has been a wish of mine for years.  In fact, from toddlerhood on up, I have been overweight and can remember in Junior High wishing I could lose weight.  By my45th birthday, I found myself tipping the scales at 355 lbs. and even though I could tell I was still gaining, I refused to weigh myself after that.  It was discouraging as I had tried diet after diet and had asked doctors for years to help and all I ever got from them was, “eat less, get more exercise”. Nothing seemed to work, but I remember thinking there has to be a solution.

In my early 40’s I was given the diagnosis of high blood pressure and put on medication for it. Along with that I received a diagnosis of sleep apnea and began using a CPAP machine at night.  Somewhere in that time frame, I started having really bad pain in my foot and the foot doctor informed me that I had a case of Plantar Fasciitis.  Then at 46 years old, my Doctor told me that I had Type 2 Diabetes; with an A1C level of 9.8. With the Diabetes diagnosis, I ask about using diet and exercise to help or eliminate any of my problems and the Doctor said without any hesitation that I could not use diet and exercise to fix any of my problems and that I just needed to accept them as a part of my life and take my medication.

I started doing some research and began experimenting with a low carb diet; not as restrictive as Adkins but still involved high animal protein and high fat.  I did lose about 70 lbs. over the course of a year, but then stopped losing.  I am only guessing at how much I lost, as I don’t really know how heavy I got; I assume I was at least 365 lbs. or more at my heaviest.  After noticing some weight loss, I did get on the scale at 356 lbs. Even with the weight loss, all of my illnesses listed above were still problems and I really felt like I had done about all I could.  After about two years, I had slowly gained some weight back.  I was planning surgery to have the tendon in my foot surgically cut to relieve the pain and was beginning to think the Doctor was right when he told me that I could not cure my ailments with diet & exercise.

Then, around my 49th birthday, some friends told us that they had begun a plant-based lifestyle. They had us watch the “FORKS OVER KNIVES” documentary so we could understand their reason for making the switch. We were convinced but were not sure how to get started.  These friends introduced us to others who were involved and took us to a workshop in April 2014 where we were able to learn even more.  At that workshop, I decided that I needed to make the switch and to go all in.

Two weeks after starting a whole food plant based diet; my foot pain just stopped.   By week 4 in this new lifestyle, I had stopped taking my blood pressure medication and my diabetic medication because my blood pressure and blood sugar would go too low when taking the medication.  Please note; I monitored my blood pressure and blood sugar several times a day to make sure it was stable.  After 18 weeks of a 100% plant-based lifestyle, I visited my Doctor.  I had lab work done in advance and had not told him that I discontinued my medication.  When the Doctor walked into the examination room, he looked at me and asked, “So what have you been doing?” I was worried based on his past comments, but I told him about being 100% plant-based, losing a total of about 115 lbs., and finding the need to discontinue my medications.  He reviewed the lab results with me, stating that my A1C (indicator used to diagnose diabetes) is now 5.4 which is in the realm of normal and that my cholesterol was well below any concern.  He noted that my blood pressure looked normal and commented that my medical chart confirmed the major weight loss.  He congratulated me on the hard work and said that I was in the 0.1% of people who will actually do something proactive for their health; he seemed genuinely pleased.  When I told him that my sleep apnea and my plantar fasciitis were gone, he said, “Of course they are, that makes perfect sense”.  He told me that there's no doubt in his mind that I had cured myself of all my ailments, and there was no reason to continue any medication!  I guess he’s a believer now…

I really want to credit God for leading me to this PB lifestyle.  He put friends in my life who led the way into a plant-based lifestyle, and they have encouraged, supported, and coached us as we began.  I have also been very blessed to have family who have supported and participated in this transition into a new way of life.

Tim P. – Off all 8 Meds

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Tim and Teri Post (Before)

May I share a local SUCCESS story? In the spring of 2013, a couple from Braidwood named Tim and Teri began to search out dietary options as a result of Tim’s failing health. One year later, because of their conversion to a whole food, plant-based diet, the results are speaking for themselves. Below is Tim’s story. Please read it and be inspired….because results such as this ARE typical!    ~ Cyd

Post Written by Tim: In the beginning I was a dyed in the wool meat eater who thought that vegans were a bunch of liberal wackos. It's not about being a vegan…. It's about being healthy. I had some health issues but did not relate them to my diet. I decided I was getting too fat and wanted to lose some weight. My son had been on Atkins before and lost weight so after trying Weight Watchers with my wife and having no success, I thought I would try Atkins. I lost some weight on Atkins and thought I was doing okay. Their plan tied into my meat eating habits rather nicely. I always had the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that eating all that animal fat and bacon was going to clog my arteries because I already had a stent in one of my arteries and was diagnosed with heart disease.

Then one day I noticed myself turning a yellowish color in my skin. I also had a hard time with my recovery after working out, and my muscle ache was constant. It just seemed like it would not go away. I still did not relate this to my diet. I, like so many others, decided to consult Dr. Internet with my symptoms to try and see what was wrong. With just googling my symptoms, I started getting all kinds of information popping up on low carbohydrate high protein diets and how they can cause all the symptoms that I was experiencing. Basically it said I was stressing my liver to the point of failing. Liver failure due to unused proteins. Thus the yellow skin tone, muscle ache and fatigue.

My wife had been training with a personal trainer for some time and had mentioned that he was a plant-based eater and preached it religiously. At the time I figured he was just a nut. It wasn't that I was stubborn it was just that I was uneducated. She was also in contact with a plant-based nutritionist through the newspaper named Cyd Notter. She suggested we make an appointment and just go to hear what she had to say. I am not afraid of learning new things so I was okay with it. After talking with her, a lot of what she said made sense. She sent us home letting us borrow the video “forks over knives".

Watching that video pissed me off. It opened my eyes to the hog washing that I had been subjected to all through my life just for someone else's profit. I immediately bought copies of that movie and the adjoining literature and cookbooks and sent a package to each of my kids. I felt it was my duty as their father to let them know what I have learned. Unfortunately they, like so many others, refuse to respond because they are too comfortable in their standard American diet. 🙁

Ever since that time my wife and I have been 100% whole foods plant-based in our eating. We can't be happier. Prior to my diet change I suffered from high blood pressure, reactive hypoglycemia, acid reflux, plantar fasciitis, heart disease, arthritis, incessant back issues, digestive problems, high cholesterol, being overweight, and a general feeling of poor health. As per my doctor’s orders I took eight medications to try to fix it. Nothing worked. Now I am cured of all of the above. I take no medications. I am the same weight and waist size as I was as a senior in high school. My energy levels have increased. My pain is way, way lessened. My back issues have almost entirely ceased. My arthritis has stopped. And my general sense of well-being and feeling of health are off the charts. Did I say BAM?............BAM!

Funny what an open mind and a little bit of research can do for a guy. I am living proof of what a plant-based diet can do for your health. I don’t understand why people seem to want to fight against good health. Such negative strong     reactions to a positive and harmless message. Maybe it’s caused from their addictions to meat and animal products and processed foods. Or guilt in having to face up to the fact that they are making informed decisions to pursue their poor choices and not being able to hide behind ignorance. If we would only shut up they wouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable.   The one best single thing I’ve ever done for my health is to change my diet to whole foods plant-based. I guess that's why I try to spread the info as much as I do. Hopefully it catches on with someone else.

The Posts - After Shot
The Posts - After Shot

Thanks Tim! Its commitment and results such as yours and Teri’s that inspire and energize many of us! Not only did you seek out the right information, you were both open to it and jumped in with both feet. So proud of what you’ve accomplished! I pray your story will inspire others to follow suit – so that they can regain their health and experience their own BAM!          ~ Cyd

What Shall we Eat?

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WHAT SHALL WE EAT?!

I have been experimenting with plant-based recipes for over 23 years. And since my husband and I have slightly different palates and texture preferences, a recipe has to please BOTH of us in order to be considered a "keeper". I will only print the keepers; however, I encourage you to do your own experimenting as you get more familiar with a variety of foods which may be new to you.

People tend to eat the same 6 - 8 dinner recipes over and over, so it won't take long to find the ones you like - then you're really on your way! To stay motivated and enjoy food to the fullest, experiment with at least one new recipe each week! Lasagnas, burritos, pastas, soups and stews, casseroles, appetizers, desserts, 'meat' loaves, enchiladas..........it's amazing what you can do with plants!

There are thousands and thousands of whole food, plant based, oil-free recipes on line. I'll be posting a few of our favorites, but you can also View our Recommended Resources for some links to find great recipes!

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