When I was young, I did not know that I had a digestive system. Everything worked so well that I never worried about the system. Food got digested and waste got eliminated without any pain or misery. Little did I know that I would need to heal my gut one day.

Then in my twenties I started to have painful gas. Later I noticed that I had indigestion and constipation. By the forties my indigestion, painful gas and constipation became so bad that I had to take anti-acids in an attempt to reduce the unpleasant smell of burping. I never had breakfast till mid-day because my stomach was still full of undigested and fermenting supper from the previous evening. Someone suggested that I buy digestive enzymes. Those helped but my digestion whenever I took them.  Still I could not understand why I failed to digest my food naturally and I needed laxatives regularly in order to move my bowels.

Then I received valuable information about problems of the digestive tract and how to solve them! I learned that digestive problems are not normal: we cause them by eating harmful foods and combining foods incorrectly. This information got me excited and I started to research more about health. It was confirmed by various sources that we make ourselves ill by eating harmful foods – animal flesh and dairy products. Animal foods are difficult to digest and they make the body acidic, creating an environment that is suitable for many diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and inflammation. Though I did not have any of the above mentioned chronic diseases, I was probably close to getting them. After all I had a long list of symptoms, including poor digestion and constipation.

Soon after the festive season in January 2008, I experimented by avoiding all meats and all dairy. I ate plant foods only for 4 months. For breakfast I had fruits and for lunch and dinner I had vegetables and legumes. For snacks I had nuts and seeds. Within 3 months all my problems disappeared! I could digest all my food without pain and gas. Finally I eliminated wastes daily, sometimes twice per day. I felt very clean inside. No more painful gas! No more smelly burps! Even the poo smell became mild! I was back to normal! This was a miracle!

As a bonus, I lost weight from about 76kg to 62kg and I had to buy new clothes. My feet were no longer swollen and I had to buy new shoes because the old ones were too loose. The yeast infection and the burning urine (mostly from acid) cleared. My skin cleared and I no longer needed regular facials (which did not work by the way). I confirmed to myself that eating the wrong foods caused my digestive system problems and the long list of other problems. I learned that plant foods heal and soothe the digestive system, reverse acidity in the body and heal the rest of the body. I proved to myself that the right food heals the body.

I decided there and then to adopt the plant-based diet. It’s been 9 years since I changed my diet. I do not crave any meats or dairy products. Once in a while I have pizza with cheese. I also eat eggs once in a while. I do not miss any of those things. At 55 years old I am happy with my health and I do not need any pills for anything. I have plenty of energy. My life is good.

Looking back, I see that my painless life as a child was all due to a vegetarian diet that involved organic whole foods that we grew ourselves, with meat eaten a few times per year at Christmas, at Easter and when we had visitors. My diet as a young adult was meat based, with meat eaten once or twice per day, eggs eaten at least 2 times per week and dairy at least once a week. The meat-based diet caused me a lot of health issues including problems of the digestive system.

When I changed my diet in 2008, I went back to vegetarian food, and ate meat a few times per year. Now I might have fish once or twice per year if I cannot find vegan food when I visit other people. As you can tell, vegetarian food saved my life. I am painfree! I am free from disease! I have lots of energy! Best of all I look young, fit and slim!