Facts Questions & Answers
Our lifestyle coaching is Easier, Smarter and healthier Program. We help you understand how food choices affect your body. Then make Healthier choices. There are “bad foods.” They are damaging and drive disease formation.
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle medicine is the use of evidenced-based lifestyle therapeutic interventions, divided into 6 categories. Those categories are called the “6 Pillars” and they are whole food plant-eating, regular moderate physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and loving relationships.
Lifestyle changes are THE MOST POWERFUL interventions to prevent, treat and possibly reverse chronic diseases. 80% of chronic diseases in our country are due to Lifestyle Choices. So choices you make in your life can improve or worsen your own disease.
You have the power to change your destiny!
What can lifestyle change do for me?
Lifestyle changes can help you feel stronger, younger, more energetic and in the process, you lose weight naturally and keep it off!!! Many people are able to decrease dependence on medications! For example, people feel better and see an improvement in cholesterol and blood sugar in as little as 2 weeks.
Why should I take your course?
Our goal is to teach you and support you in learning the skills for a long healthy life!! It is most rewarding when you can interact with real people to learn, ask questions, and make new friends in the groups. It is a safe, non-judgmental space. We love working with everyone, and especially beginners!
This is a Team Effort. Your course fee includes 2 people. We are results oriented and when you commit the time and honest energy you will reap the benefits and return on investment. We are with you every step of the way!
Come off my medications? How will I know how to do that?
We recommend that you tell your doctor that you are going to work with our program. Your doctor will continue to be in charge of your medications. We have a letter and information packet that we will provide to your physician and communicate with them as needed.
What’s so special about eating plants? And they don’t have enough protein!
Plants have all of the nutrients that humans need, with plenty of protein and iron! Beans are especially high in fiber and protein. The one supplement that is mandatory for plant eaters is Vitamin B12.
What is so healing about plants?
Plants contain very powerful chemical compounds that fight disease and heal damaged tissues. Dr. William Li has documented the biologic activity of compounds in fruits and vegetables and compared them to modern pharmaceutical agents. See “Resources” tab for more information.
I don’t believe it.
Eating a whole food plant-based diet is the MOST powerful tool you have to fight diseases. There are no drugs as powerful as the foods that you chose to eat every day. Why depend on drugs to try and keep you healthy?
It’s expensive to eat fruits and vegetables. How can I afford it?
There are many resources and cookbooks to show you how to feed a family of 4 on less than $5/day. It is possible. Compare those costs to buying meat or eating restaurant food. You will save money!
How does the course work?
Most meetings are a zoom platform and live. You will get instruction in the science and practical application of whole food plant eating, healthy sleep, stress reduction, and mindful eating.. Also included are cooking classes!
What are your credentials?
Dr. Erin, Chef Heather and Dr. Steve have over 90 years combined experience in nutrition, health care and fitness. It is our Passion!! See our bios for details!
What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are caused by chronic inflammation in your body. It is the foundation that drives disease formation such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, strokes, many types of cancer, arthritis, auto-immune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, obesity and more.
Are you kidding me- you can reverse Diabetes?
Yes!!! The potential is amazing. Animal foods, including dairy, and processed foods drive inflammation. Plant foods are healing, they are “anti-inflammatory”. There are thousands of people who have reversed their diabetes and come off most if not all medications. Erin’s husband Steve is one of them!
How can animal foods be bad for you? “They say” that eating fish is healthy!
Lifetime research done by Dr T Colin Campbell (The China Study), Dr Dean Ornish (UnDoIt) and Dr Caldwell Esselstyn (Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease) have demonstrated that all animal foods cause inflammation, even fish. In Dr Campbell’s research, he demonstrated that populations with the lowest incidence of chronic diseases and cancer are ones that limit animal protein intake to less than 5% of the total diet. We analyze and discuss all of this in our classes.
What is SAD?
SAD = the Standard American Diet is composed of primarily processed and fatty foods, meat and dairy. It is lacking most nutrients, and there is no fiber. It drives inflammation. It causes you to feel sluggish and depressed. People who eat the SAD are actually Malnourished. It is literally killing us.
But I love meat and I can’t give up my cheese!
Sorry! Processed meats have been declared a Class 1 Carcinogen by the World Health Organization- those include hot dogs, lunch meat, beef jerky, sausage, ham and bacon. Red meat consumption is also known to contribute to cancer formation. Cheese- well that is REALLY addicting, composed of up to 50% fat.
Diet is related to breast cancer?
Yes! The protein in cow’s milk, casein, has been shown to be the most carcinogenic protein that drives breast cancer formation.
Why does “everyone” say that the Mediterranean diet is healthy?
A true Mediterranean diet is composed of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. They eat very little meat, use scant amounts of olive oil and drink one 4 oz glass of red wine. That is very different than what you read about in the American media.
How is the DASH diet different?
The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, eggs, whole grains, low salt, fish, low fat dairy and poultry. It ignores the inflammatory contribution of meat and dairy. It has never been shown to reverse diseases.
What is a Keto or Paleo diet? They are supposed to be healthy.
Keto is low carbohydrate, high fat diet. So eating keto eliminates most fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, and refined foods. It temporarily helps you burn fat faster, but it is not healthy in the long run since there is little fiber (contributes to colon cancer) and high blood levels of fats (artery disease, fatty liver).
Paleo -promotes meat, eggs, fruits, veggies, nuts, “healthy” fats, excludes dairy or whole grains and processed foods. It is still a high fat diet.
I thought olive oil was “healthy” and consumption encouraged.
There has been heavy media promotion of olive oil. What is important to know is that when used properly, it is used in very small amounts. It is better for your cholesterol than saturated fats like butter, palm, coconut, etc.but remember all oils are still fat, and all oils have about 20 grams fat/tbsp.
I thought “Moderation is Key”, “There are no bad foods”
Sorry! Wrong! All animal foods will drive inflammation, so yes, there are bad foods. As far as moderation goes, who can take one bite of pizza anyway?