Food For Life Class Testimonials

"This program is a reall eye-opener and has totally changed the way myself and myhusband choose our food!" - Eileen

"This is he most important class I have ever taken in my whole life." - Erns

"Taking this class series is on of the best and life-changing things I have ever done - I am now a real believer!" - Alice

"Just learning there are carcinogens in cooked meat made it worthwhile, and then I learned a lot more." - Jenny

Student Healing Testimonials

" I am a 53-year-old female who was diagnosed with diabetes in October of 2008.  I freaked out.  I went and bought a ton of books, including Dr. Neal Barnard's book on "Reversing Diabetes."  My fasting and 2-hour post meal sugars were in the 150-200 range.  I also had drenching hot flashes, restless leg syndrome and neuropathy in my feet to name a few things.  I was a mess.  As I read Dr. Barnard's book, I was getting myself ready to go vegan when I came across the Cancer Survivor's cooking classes.  I signed up and boy howdy I am so very glad.  Katherine Lawrence, my class instructor, was a very inspirational advocate for the vegan way of life.  After the first class, I jumped in with both feet and have not looked back since.  My sugars, both fasting and 2-hour post meal, have dropped 60+ points now the 4th week of veganism.  My hot flashes have diminished and are barely noticeable.  My restless leg syndrome has totally disappeared.  The neuropathy I had in my feet is almost gone too.  I have also lost officially 11 pounds.  My hemoglobin A1c was 11 when all this started.  It is now 6.8.  I also need to mention that the "flashes and floaters" in my eyes are now fading away also.  The day of the 4th and final class, I had stopped one of my blood pressure medications and was in the process of talking the doctor into a trial of stopping one of the diabetic medications as well.  I also have to tell you that those 1-pound packages of butter on the side of my thighs are totally gone!  I am a committed vegan.  It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be.  My dad was a hunter, and we always had a lot of meat and taters on the table, so, the first thing I did, of course, was to whine about what I would be missing.  After the first week of lower weight, sugars and blood pressures, I quickly stopped the whining and started focusing on what I can eat.  There are no words to express my gratitude to Dr. Neal Barnard, The Cancer Project and Katherine Lawrence for the new-found health benefits they have brought into my life." - Jerry S.

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"While preparing to go for my annual exam in 2007, I questioned why I made an appointment each year.  The result was always the same…everything is fine.  However, upon examination this time, my doctor felt a lump in my right breast.  She had not yet received the results from my mammogram, which I had obtained prior to the exam, so she made an appointment for me to have an ultra sound.  A mass was found, a biopsy scheduled and it was determined to be breast cancer.  Ironically, when I returned home that day, I received a letter in the mail with the results of my mammogram.  The report read, “We are glad to report that your mammogram was clear.”  I urge everyone to do self examinations monthly and to have annual exams by your physician.

After surgery to remove the mass, I underwent 16 weeks of chemo and 37 days of radiation, extending from February through October.  Even though this is all behind me, I wanted to do more to improve my heath and strengthen my immune system.  I saw a magazine article by Michael Landon’s daughter, advertising the website cancerproject.org, and the “Food for Life” classes.  Although the closest class to Oklahoma City was in Dallas, I decided to attend at the Women’s Center at Baylor University.    After all, at each session, they served food….my favorite thing!

I began changing my eating habits slowly.  I selected foods low in fat, high in fiber, and ate more fruits and vegetables.   After just a few short weeks, I could tell that my clothes were fitting more loosely.  To date, I’ve lost 28 pounds, have more energy.  I walk stairs and the treadmill on a daily basis.  I’m not totally a vegan, but I don’t eat dairy, eggs, and very little cheese and meat.  I haven’t had a hamburger in months!  I even made it through the holidays without gaining any weight.  I’m very grateful for the information I’ve received after attending the Food for Life classes.  I visit the website daily, looking for more recipes and to see what is new." - Kay

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"I just got my cholesterol numbers. Last year I was at 201. I had the test done right before I went all out with the RAVE diet ( no Refined food, no Animal products, no Vegetable oil, no Exceptions) much like what Barnard is saying. Today I'm at 128! I really wanted to be below 150 so I'm very pleased:-)" - Russell E.

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"My granddaughter, Brooklyn, was just 13 months old when she started having chronic ear infections - this was one month after her doctor transitioned her to whole cow’s milk.  At the time, we didn’t connect these She had her first set of "tubes" in her ears at 15 months old.  That didn't seem to solve the problem and she continued to be sick with ear infections continuously and every time there would be another prescription for antibiotics.  The pediatrician wanted to try another set of "tubes" in her ears and I suggested to her we try a more natural approach.  After visiting a natural doctor, he concluded "this little girl has no immune system functioning and her lymphatic system is not functioning very well - you need to get her off of DAIRY today!"  The Doctor suggested building her immune system and my daughter just broke into tears.  She had never made the connection between the cow’s milk and her ear infections before that moment.  She removed dairy from her diet and Brooklyn never had any more problems - she is now a healthy 6 1/2 year old!" - Linda H.

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"Before eating a plant-based diet, I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type II diabetes. I was in my early 30s and seeing a cardiologist. I didn’t own a scale that could weigh me because I was so heavy. With the switch to a plant-based diet, I’ve lost over 100 pounds, and I no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.  The only thing I changed was what I ate.

When people find out I eat a plant-based diet, I get the usual questions: “Where do you get your protein?”, “How do you get enough calcium?” When I tell them I get all I need from the food I eat, some people don’t believe me.

In 2004, I was diagnosed with a 2cm pituitary tumor. Part of my treatment is regular checkups with detailed bloodwork. My results are always the same: perfect cholesterol, protein, and calcium levels. Every doctor I see commends the way I eat.

Changing the way I eat didn’t just change my life—It saved it!" - Christopher G.

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“Never in a million years. Never in a million years did I imagine myself giving up meat and being able to stay on a healthy diet for any length of time. NEVER!!!  But….I encountered some difficulties. I am a late-in-life Mom, I gave birth when I was 40 and 43. (My children are now 3 and 6.) I began feeling almost sick after every meal and as if I needed to lay down and rest for a few hours every time after I ate. That doesn’t work very well when you have small children. I wanted to be young & vibrant for my children.  I certainly didn’t like what this indicated for my future, or for theirs.

So I took Katherine’s “Food For Life” class because I wanted to feel better and because I wanted to be around for my children – really BE there. And immediately, I felt better. It took a while for me to learn about all the things I CAN eat and not be stuck in what I CAN’T eat. But it didn’t take long at all for the food to be just wonderful and plentiful. I could eat and enjoy it and feel good too! No more feeling sick and lethargic.

But there are the other benefits I hadn’t even planned on experiencing. I have now taken myself off of 3 medications. First of all, like so many of us, high cholesterol runs in my family. Neither my parents nor I were successful in lowering our cholesterol with the typical low-fat diet doctors recommend. That is why my doctor swore it was a genetic problem and warned me that I would probably always need the medicine! However, my cholesterol while ON medication and a normal American diet was 203. My cholesterol OFF of medication and on a vegan diet is 117.

Also, a year ago I was nearly anemic and now my iron level is well within normal range, showing an improvement of 10 percentage points. Another concern was my calcium levels and bone density. My doctor was in a quandary about putting me on a calcium treatment at such a young age. He did, however, put me on prescription vitamin D. Six months after my diet change, my most recent blood test showed an extreme level of Vitamin D, such that I was called right after the results and urged to stop taking Vitamin D immediately!

The last medication I stopped taking was a daily anti-migraine medication. In the past I had consistent problems with menstrual migraines but have not had a migraine now since I changed my diet.

So…what else could I ask for?! I feel younger, more vibrant and obviously, am a considerably healthier person than I was not even one year ago. And I still love to eat! I have not given up any of the enjoyment of food I previously experienced.  Life is so very good and precious. My kids would tell you the same! : )     Happy health to you all” ~ Jennifer

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" A friend told me about the Cancer Project cooking class, and I was interested in learning some new healthy recipes.  What I wasn’t prepared for was all of the information that we learned about certain types of foods, the methods of cooking, and what damage they can do to your body.  What I found great about the class was the opportunity to try all sorts of new foods that I had never had before, like soy milk, tofu, and substitutes for meat and dairy products.  It’s not that I didn’t want to try them, it’s just that those things aren’t called for in the recipes passed down from my mother or in the red and white checked cook book!

I have loved trying out the recipes we learned in class.  I made a double batch of the Lentil Stew for a potluck recently, and had several people ask for the recipe.  My husband says he wouldn’t mind if I made that every week.  I have a husband and two teenage boys at home, who claim to need their meat, so it has been a challenge to go completely vegan, but we made some very specific changes in the way we eat.  Everyone has switched to soy milk with no complaints.  We dusted off the blender and my sons have been having fun experimenting with all sorts of different fruits to add for their morning drink.  They love the Green Goddess drink and their favorite trick is the frozen grapes.  One son has gone crazy for hummus and insists on putting it on every sandwich or roll-up he makes for lunch.  Veggie burgers and sweet potato fries have replaced the fast food specials.  My husband has begun eating fruit again, and I am having fun finding non-meat entrees at the various restaurants we go to.  I have learned that even if there is not a specific vegan item on the menu, every restaurant can put together a “veggie plate.”

Some of the benefits have been very swift.  My bowel system has been regulated, which has always been a problem for me.  Without even trying, I have lost 5 pounds.  I find myself checking for fiber content in foods now, rather than the carbohydrate count.  For some reason, I can feel when I am full and don’t need to keep eating to feel satisfied.  And the best part is when my husband came to me and said, “Honey, I’m really glad we are eating healthier – I feel better.”  Now he wants to take the class!  I wish everyone could take the class, especially those with the chance of cancer in their family.  You will learn so much." - Kathy C.