live4surf's Commentshttps://articles.mercola.com:443/members/live4surf/default.aspxen-USCommunityServer 2008.5 SP1 (Debug Build: 31106.3070)https://articles.mercola.com:443/members/live4surf/comments/default.aspxHi Live4Surf. A Vegan dietary approach is simply a plant based approach - no fish, meat, dairy (cheese), or eggs. It includes fruit, legumes (things in a shell), vegetables, and grains. I am very familiar with Dr. Greger and follow him weekly, as well as John McDougal, M.D., Dr. Esseylstein (sp?), M.D., and Neal Barnard, M.D. (I highly recommend). For me personally I have four reasons to stick with the plant based approach. The first is its affect on my constipation issues that I suffered from for 50 years. The second is its affect on my lipid panel which we recently discussed. The third is its affect on my entire GI tract as a whole (no cramping, pain, smelly gas (sorry), reflux attacks especially at night). And the fourth is its affect on weight. I weigh only 135 lbs., 5'8", and to keep my weight constant I make sure I eat three good meals a day. Otherwise I would lose weight, which I did when I first started the program (March 1) because of not eating enough. Of note here, I have two sisters who also use this plant based approach. One has lost 12 lbs. and the other 40 lbs., so it does seem to be a good approach for those in need of losing weight. One last note, there seems to be a conflict in the literature and research on the effects of dietary animal fat consumption on ones serum cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL's, HDL's). One saying animal fats (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) do not negatively influence ones serum cholesterol levels (Dr. Mercola, D.O., Dr. Perlmutter, M.D., Dr. Eades,M.D.), and the other saying dietary animal fat consumption does most definitely affect ones serum cholesterol levels (Drs. Greger, Barnard, Esseylstein, McDougal). In my case, NOT consuming animal fats had a direct and rapid affect on my serum cholesterol levels. I obviously am staying with the plant based approach. I experience no loss of energy and feel great. As always, I will continue to educate myself from the likes of those named above, as well as others. I find food consumption, and its affect on ones body, a fascinating subject. To pass on a quote: "Let food be thy medicine" is very true. Have a great vacation.Sun, 07 Jun 2015 15:59:09 GMTjnkmttHi Live4Surf. A Vegan dietary approach is simply a plant based approach - no fish, meat, dairy (cheese), or eggs. It includes fruit, legumes (things in a shell), vegetables, and grains. I am very familiar with Dr. Greger and follow him weekly, as well as John McDougal, M.D., Dr. Esseylstein (sp?), M.D., and Neal Barnard, M.D. (I highly recommend). For me personally I have four reasons to stick with the plant based approach. The first is its affect on my constipation issues that I suffered from for 50 years. The second is its affect on my lipid panel which we recently discussed. The third is its affect on my entire GI tract as a whole (no cramping, pain, smelly gas (sorry), reflux attacks especially at night). And the fourth is its affect on weight. I weigh only 135 lbs., 5'8", and to keep my weight constant I make sure I eat three good meals a day. Otherwise I would lose weight, which I did when I first started the program (March 1) because of not eating enough. Of note here, I have two sisters who also use this plant based approach. One has lost 12 lbs. and the other 40 lbs., so it does seem to be a good approach for those in need of losing weight. One last note, there seems to be a conflict in the literature and research on the effects of dietary animal fat consumption on ones serum cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL's, HDL's). One saying animal fats (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) do not negatively influence ones serum cholesterol levels (Dr. Mercola, D.O., Dr. Perlmutter, M.D., Dr. Eades,M.D.), and the other saying dietary animal fat consumption does most definitely affect ones serum cholesterol levels (Drs. Greger, Barnard, Esseylstein, McDougal). In my case, NOT consuming animal fats had a direct and rapid affect on my serum cholesterol levels. I obviously am staying with the plant based approach. I experience no loss of energy and feel great. As always, I will continue to educate myself from the likes of those named above, as well as others. I find food consumption, and its affect on ones body, a fascinating subject. To pass on a quote: "Let food be thy medicine" is very true. Have a great vacation. https://articles.mercola.com:443/members/live4surf/comments/default.aspxI am responding to comments I made several months ago about Mercola's article relative to constipation, Mercola's dietary plan, and the vegan plan. I also discussed cholesterol. I commented on how I had been on the Mercola dietary plan for 12 years and have my lab numbers for every one of those 12 years. I also have my numbers for the 20 years before the Mercola dietary plan. I commented on how the vegan dietary plan had corrected my 50 year constipation problem immediately when I started on it March 1, 2015. Also, I have discovered now, after three months of being vegan, that my cholesterol and related lipid panel numbers have improved drastically. My total cholesterol dropped from 208 to 159, my HDL stayed the same at 57, my triglycerides dropped from 88 to 65, and my LDL's dropped from 128 to 89 - in just three months. As a result I am now a life long vegan, avoiding meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. I am a true believer and have my numbers to prove the plan works. With Mercola's plan I had no changes in my lab values over 12 years and obviously, the meat, dairy, and fish made me constipated. It's a new life for me now, even at age 70. I still take NO medications and my blood pressure remains 120/70. I wish you all well.Thu, 04 Jun 2015 03:47:36 GMTjnkmttI am responding to comments I made several months ago about Mercola's article relative to constipation, Mercola's dietary plan, and the vegan plan. I also discussed cholesterol. I commented on how I had been on the Mercola dietary plan for 12 years and have my lab numbers for every one of those 12 years. I also have my numbers for the 20 years before the Mercola dietary plan. I commented on how the vegan dietary plan had corrected my 50 year constipation problem immediately when I started on it March 1, 2015. Also, I have discovered now, after three months of being vegan, that my cholesterol and related lipid panel numbers have improved drastically. My total cholesterol dropped from 208 to 159, my HDL stayed the same at 57, my triglycerides dropped from 88 to 65, and my LDL's dropped from 128 to 89 - in just three months. As a result I am now a life long vegan, avoiding meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. I am a true believer and have my numbers to prove the plan works. With Mercola's plan I had no changes in my lab values over 12 years and obviously, the meat, dairy, and fish made me constipated. It's a new life for me now, even at age 70. I still take NO medications and my blood pressure remains 120/70. I wish you all well. https://articles.mercola.com:443/members/live4surf/comments/default.aspxThanks for caring live4surf ! I had bought and read all the books and infos I could put my eyes on...but that was before May 2009 when this book came out. I quickly checked it up in the "look inside" feature on Amazon and it appears Mr McCormick also went through major malabsorption issues. I am definitely going to order the book, I am sure there will be some very useful things to learn or review. On the other hand, should you not be familiar with the "weak acids" concept, I recommend reading : The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating pH Balance in Your Diet by Christopher Vasey. I am sure you will be helping many people with this book as it contains the key to why the "usual recommended Acid/Alkaline diets" do not work for people who have problems with weak acids. Thanks again. P.S. May I suggest you upload an avatar/photo as it is much faster and easier for the reader to find your comments !Tue, 22 May 2012 23:05:03 GMThealthibiscusThanks for caring live4surf ! I had bought and read all the books and infos I could put my eyes on...but that was before May 2009 when this book came out. I quickly checked it up in the "look inside" feature on Amazon and it appears Mr McCormick also went through major malabsorption issues. I am definitely going to order the book, I am sure there will be some very useful things to learn or review. On the other hand, should you not be familiar with the "weak acids" concept, I recommend reading : The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health: Restore Your Health by Creating pH Balance in Your Diet by Christopher Vasey. I am sure you will be helping many people with this book as it contains the key to why the "usual recommended Acid/Alkaline diets" do not work for people who have problems with weak acids. Thanks again. P.S. May I suggest you upload an avatar/photo as it is much faster and easier for the reader to find your comments ! https://articles.mercola.com:443/members/live4surf/comments/default.aspxCan you tell me what yoga spine stretches u do in your 10 min bedtime routine? Would these be beneficial for both men and woman? ThanksMon, 27 Feb 2012 18:34:37 GMTformyinfoCan you tell me what yoga spine stretches u do in your 10 min bedtime routine? Would these be beneficial for both men and woman? Thanks