How my Plant-Based Journey Began
before whole food plant-based & after
Growing up, I was always fearful that my parents would die. I had to witness my mother go through cancer three different times, and my father had a massive heart attack that led to triple bypass surgery and, eventually, stents and a defibrillator. My dad now has diabetes, congestive heart failure, and recently had a stroke. It has been a rough time seeing my family so sick.
Through my childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, I followed the same lifestyle as my parents, eating a standard American diet. We ate take-out and lots of meat, dairy, and oil.
My struggles with weight began when I was only 8 years old, and by the time I was in my mid-20s, my eating habits had really caught up with me. I was 185 pounds! With my being only 5 feet tall, my BMI was clearly in the obese range.
My doctor diagnosed me with high blood pressure (150/90) and put me on two different blood pressure medications. I had high cholesterol (total cholesterol: 242). My anxiety was through the roof, with a resting heart rate in the 90s. My hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk) was extremely high, and I had chest pains. I thought, “This can’t be my life at 25 years old.”
I began researching ways to get myself out of the health crisis. I found the Forks Over Knives documentary and it all clicked. I saw what my future would be if I stayed on my current path: heart disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and maybe even cancer. After watching the documentary I immediately went plant-based. I got rid of all the dairy, meat, and processed foods we had in our house. I went shopping for whole plant foods: grains, fruit, veggies, and legumes.
Since that day now seven years ago, I have lost 70 pounds. I no longer have high cholesterol (120 total) or high blood pressure (110/70). My resting heart rate is 60 and my hs-CRP is in the normal range! I can’t say enough about how amazing I feel and how grateful I am to have found this lifestyle at an early age.
I credit Forks Over Knives for changing my life and truly saving it. This new lifestyle has given me more than I could have ever dreamed of. I currently help run a whole-food, plant-based Meetup group in my community. My life’s passion now is to educate others about going whole-food, plant-based, and to save as many people as possible from lifestyle diseases.
It is never too late—or too early—to become healthy with plant foods. I look forward to a lifetime of eating whole-food, plant-based, and helping others.
**With a heavy heart, my mom passed away over the summer of 2019 from stage 4 breast cancer. I will continue to educate others on the benefits of a whole food plant-based lifestyle and how it can reduce your risk for cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.**
What People Are Saying About The Jaroudi Family
“I love the chocolate pudding so much! It uses simple ingredients and the way it tastes like the jello pudding cups I enjoyed as a kid is uncanny! The only difference is this is a guilt and cruelty-free version that's healthy for you with sweet potatoes!”
— Donna B.
“The e-cookbook makes both the transition to WFPB eating and weight loss simple and delicious!”
— Anna S.
“Everything Brittany creates is amazing! My current favorites include the mushroom soup, the plant-based hamburger helper, and the twice-baked potatoes! All so yummy and filling. I joined the membership when she first started it for the recipes - and the zoom cooking classes, art projects, and playlists are an added bonus!”
— Diane C.
“After reading and hearing, what Doctors Greger and Esselstyn (and others) both say, about the benefit of adding vinegar to your greens, such as spinach, to increase levels of nitric oxide, I set out on a mission. Brittany came through with flying colors, with her "Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing"! It is so flavorful and easy to make, it almost seems like cheating!”
— Tim R.