Lovely post Jack. I appreciate you sharing, as a fellow OMSer I understand completely and look forward to your recipes & podcasts. Unfortunately my mobility was affected before I started the plant based eating so probably not get better, but hopefully it will help slow progession. I'm very strict on diet, take my DMT, vit D, made drastic changes to destress, just got to start exercising. Maybe this year! All the best for 2023
I changed from meat eater to 100% whole food plant-based diet this time last year and haven’t regretted it. I wish I had known about the health benefits earlier in my life. Though it’s never too late to make a difference. My doctor was strongly advising medication for high cholesterol and I asked for time to try and make a difference by changing my diet. Well it worked. But wouldn’t it have been nice if the doctor had encouraged me and informed me about eating vegan? I did it on my own. I just wonder how much fitter better I might have been had I done this thirty or forty years ago. I’m loving your Substack, thanks for sharing.
I know I asked you (a few weeks ago, maybe?) what your path to veganism was, and when you didn't reply, I chalked it up to my asking a too-personal question. Now I realize -- you were writing THIS piece of utter gorgeousness. Wow. So vulnerable and honest, and SO well-written. You really took me on your journey with you.
A brief share: I've always been conscious of food's healing properties ever since my mother died of cancer when I was 23. But my understanding of it kicked into higher gear later, when my husband contracted CLL, and later still, when my daughter was bedridden with Lyme. It was her situation that really brought it all together; after 2 years of the typical medical run-around, she went on a 6-month healing diet, eating only fruits and vegetables, and NOTHING else. Within a month, she was up and around, after 6, she was able to return to more normal activities. She's now a vegan Division 1 volleyball player, stronger and faster than anyone else on the team.
I totally relate to wanting to shake people (did you actually say that? Probably not; that's me) who don't seem to understand the relationship between what they put in their mouths and their quality of life. You're right, words alone won't reach them; but I believe a story like yours could. Thank you for telling it.
Incredible. I reversed an unknown metabolic disorder with a plant-based diet, and I know from the literature that it reverses heart disease--but I had no idea it treated MS as well. Thanks for telling your story!
I've been vegan for love of other animals for 9 years with the added benefit that my mental, emotional and physical health transformed, I'm 59 now and full of beans. I found the longer I've been vegan the crazier it seems not to be.
Thanks for sharing your story, Jack. It’s so true that talk is cheap when it comes to lifestyle changes. If more information alone did the trick, we would all be healthier. But I think once people see (or taste) that they won’t lose the pleasure of eating when they shift to a healthier lifestyle, they are more inclined to at least give it a shot.
There are a bunch of other factors, of course. People need to develop or improve their cooking skills, understand how to balance macronutrients, and know which supplements are important. But getting over that initial hurdle of seeing a plant-based diet as restrictive starts with a bite of a vegan version of a favorite dish. 
My own journey started with a flexitarian diet in high school and shifted toward vegetarian as I lost my taste for meat. When I discovered that severe lactose intolerance was behind a lot of my digestive problems, I gave up dairy and went fully plant-based. It’s been a journey ever since, and I’ve spent the last 13 years going from someone who largely subsistent on quesadillas and didn’t know how to cook tofu to almost completely whole food plant-based and making the majority of my own food.
I really like exploring recipes and discovering new fruits and vegetables. Food and cooking have always been central in my life; being plant-based has simply added another layer of exploration. 
What an inspiring piece, and so beautifully written! I'm 76 now and never really have been sick, except for an occasional flu. I count myself lucky; I've inherited a strong constitution. But being vegan for over 20 years has helped too, I'm sure. I wish you continuing good health, and look forward to more of your recipes, always so carefully researched and delicious.
Thank you for sharing your story. It really helps me understand the depth of caring you have for what you’re doing. It inspires me too! When I went gluten-free 15 years ago, it was because of a health issue. I found that one easy, because the health consequence was just way worse than not eating gluten. Switching to being (mostly) vegan 4 years ago was for health reason for me too, but not as obvious or serious (but I could see it coming). I also really love knowing that you were able to heal. I have made a number of changes in my life style and in my choices related to my health. Unfortunately, or fortunately, pain has been quite a motivator.  and I’m grateful for whatever it is that has allowed me to make those changes, even when it is hard. I know some people just can’t and I don’t know why I have so far been one of the lucky ones.  I’m really working on the anxiety, stress, meditative side of things right now.
Wow, wow, wow. Wow. Such deeply moving writing, Jack. I'm not vegan, but like you I actively use my eating style to help me to manage a health condition. I'm saving this post to refer back to - thank you so much for sharing.
Lovely post Jack. I appreciate you sharing, as a fellow OMSer I understand completely and look forward to your recipes & podcasts. Unfortunately my mobility was affected before I started the plant based eating so probably not get better, but hopefully it will help slow progession. I'm very strict on diet, take my DMT, vit D, made drastic changes to destress, just got to start exercising. Maybe this year! All the best for 2023
I changed from meat eater to 100% whole food plant-based diet this time last year and haven’t regretted it. I wish I had known about the health benefits earlier in my life. Though it’s never too late to make a difference. My doctor was strongly advising medication for high cholesterol and I asked for time to try and make a difference by changing my diet. Well it worked. But wouldn’t it have been nice if the doctor had encouraged me and informed me about eating vegan? I did it on my own. I just wonder how much fitter better I might have been had I done this thirty or forty years ago. I’m loving your Substack, thanks for sharing.
I know I asked you (a few weeks ago, maybe?) what your path to veganism was, and when you didn't reply, I chalked it up to my asking a too-personal question. Now I realize -- you were writing THIS piece of utter gorgeousness. Wow. So vulnerable and honest, and SO well-written. You really took me on your journey with you.
A brief share: I've always been conscious of food's healing properties ever since my mother died of cancer when I was 23. But my understanding of it kicked into higher gear later, when my husband contracted CLL, and later still, when my daughter was bedridden with Lyme. It was her situation that really brought it all together; after 2 years of the typical medical run-around, she went on a 6-month healing diet, eating only fruits and vegetables, and NOTHING else. Within a month, she was up and around, after 6, she was able to return to more normal activities. She's now a vegan Division 1 volleyball player, stronger and faster than anyone else on the team.
I totally relate to wanting to shake people (did you actually say that? Probably not; that's me) who don't seem to understand the relationship between what they put in their mouths and their quality of life. You're right, words alone won't reach them; but I believe a story like yours could. Thank you for telling it.
Incredible. I reversed an unknown metabolic disorder with a plant-based diet, and I know from the literature that it reverses heart disease--but I had no idea it treated MS as well. Thanks for telling your story!
Wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing. Inspirational.
hello, just found your stack! Amazing.
I've been vegan for love of other animals for 9 years with the added benefit that my mental, emotional and physical health transformed, I'm 59 now and full of beans. I found the longer I've been vegan the crazier it seems not to be.
Jo
🐒
Thanks for sharing your story, Jack. It’s so true that talk is cheap when it comes to lifestyle changes. If more information alone did the trick, we would all be healthier. But I think once people see (or taste) that they won’t lose the pleasure of eating when they shift to a healthier lifestyle, they are more inclined to at least give it a shot.
There are a bunch of other factors, of course. People need to develop or improve their cooking skills, understand how to balance macronutrients, and know which supplements are important. But getting over that initial hurdle of seeing a plant-based diet as restrictive starts with a bite of a vegan version of a favorite dish. 
My own journey started with a flexitarian diet in high school and shifted toward vegetarian as I lost my taste for meat. When I discovered that severe lactose intolerance was behind a lot of my digestive problems, I gave up dairy and went fully plant-based. It’s been a journey ever since, and I’ve spent the last 13 years going from someone who largely subsistent on quesadillas and didn’t know how to cook tofu to almost completely whole food plant-based and making the majority of my own food.
I really like exploring recipes and discovering new fruits and vegetables. Food and cooking have always been central in my life; being plant-based has simply added another layer of exploration. 
Thank you so much for sharing some of your story Jack.
What an inspiring piece, and so beautifully written! I'm 76 now and never really have been sick, except for an occasional flu. I count myself lucky; I've inherited a strong constitution. But being vegan for over 20 years has helped too, I'm sure. I wish you continuing good health, and look forward to more of your recipes, always so carefully researched and delicious.
Thank you for sharing your story. It really helps me understand the depth of caring you have for what you’re doing. It inspires me too! When I went gluten-free 15 years ago, it was because of a health issue. I found that one easy, because the health consequence was just way worse than not eating gluten. Switching to being (mostly) vegan 4 years ago was for health reason for me too, but not as obvious or serious (but I could see it coming). I also really love knowing that you were able to heal. I have made a number of changes in my life style and in my choices related to my health. Unfortunately, or fortunately, pain has been quite a motivator.  and I’m grateful for whatever it is that has allowed me to make those changes, even when it is hard. I know some people just can’t and I don’t know why I have so far been one of the lucky ones.  I’m really working on the anxiety, stress, meditative side of things right now.
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing!!
Wow, wow, wow. Wow. Such deeply moving writing, Jack. I'm not vegan, but like you I actively use my eating style to help me to manage a health condition. I'm saving this post to refer back to - thank you so much for sharing.