Vegetarian for life

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http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2005/09/06/features/health/b54c132508b1ec8e87257073005abe9e.txt

Vegetarian for life

By RENA DELBRIDGEStar-Tribune correspondent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-five years ago, Oleta Thomas decided enough was enough.She'd spent 40 years on prescription drugs for a slew of conditions that she blames on a childhood of milk shakes, hamburgers and processed food n what she calls the "Sad American Diet." Thomas suffered from migraines, bronchitis, earaches, kidney trouble and more. She wore neck and back braces for early arthritis and scoliosis. There seemed no hope in sight.Then, she discovered a vegetarian lifestyle, which she attributes to incredible health, energy and vitality even now, at 75 years old."When I look at me now and think about that . . . I'm a walking, living miracle. I hardly ever go to the doctor anymore."

At 50 years old, Thomas was invited to join a macrobiotic cooking class in Casper, and within two weeks, began to feel better. It wasn't until she took that a step further, into vegetarianism with an emphasis on raw fruits and vegetables, that she saw the most remarkable results. Devouring the book "Fit for Life" in a single night, she saw the potential.Within weeks, symptoms started clearing up. The headaches, indigestion and allergies cleared. Cystic tumors dissolved.Now, at 75, Thomas glows with good health. "Your body will naturally heal and repair itself, if you give it the right kinds of foods and drinks," Thomas said. "I feel better now than I did at 18."The transition wasn't easy, especially for a woman who had been raised on a dairy farm and spent many years on ranches. "I was afraid to mention it to my family, that I was becoming a vegetarian," she said. "And, some of my relatives disowned me."These days, Thomas is a passionate advocate of vegetarianism and, in particular, a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables. She was featured in "Health Science" magazine and has penned a book on her dietary philosophy, titled "Diet for Peaceful Eating: How to Stop the War Against Your Body." She speaks with various groups about natural weight control and cutting down food costs, bringing in some of her previous training as a home-economics teacher. Following outstanding performances in the Wyoming Senior Olympics the past two years, Thomas was awarded the title of Female Athlete of the Year for 2005.Her tidy, bright kitchen bears brilliant bowls brimming with fresh fruit. A peek inside the refrigerator reveals few preservatives, save for some flavorings and oils. A kitchen counter hosts a juicer, a critical component in a vegetarian's kitchen, she said.In a typical day, Thomas may have a glass of home-juiced cantaloupe for breakfast -- high in vitamins A, C and D. If she's running a race, Thomas enjoys a large plate of cantaloupe as well. Lunch is usually some sort of salad, with avocado and nuts for protein. She keeps dinner meals simple as well, often dining on a baked sweet potato accompanied by broccoli salad with sesame seeds, raisins and chunks of grapefruit.Ready for afternoon company, a bowl of colorful green cucumber and juicy tomato chunks sits beside homemade nut butter, an outstanding source of protein for a vegetarian. Thomas' custom blend is based in fresh almond butter, enhanced with a bit of sea salt and lemon juice, with fresh celery and carrots. Raw peach pie beckons, with a crust compiled of nuts, seeds and a little whole grain.Vegetarianism is gaining increasing popularity nationwide as people strive to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and fewer processed and animal-based products, according to Judy Barbe, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the Wyoming Dietetic Association. Many people seem to be avoiding certain foods, such as meat and dairy, without giving them up for life n for example, making one day each week a vegetarian day, or abstaining from meat and dairy at most meals of the day. Many restaurants are offering vegetarian options, and organic produce is on a steady upward trend.Barbe agreed that a vegetarian lifestyle can provide adequate nutrition for many people. "The bottom line is that either choice n vegetarian or non-vegetarian n can provide enough nutrition," she said. The kicker, of course, is whether most vegetarians are, indeed, meeting the nutritional requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some, such as Thomas, educate themselves about the variety and value of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains, and carefully craft a daily eating plan for maximum nutrition. Others, however, may simply avoid eating meat, poultry, fish and dairy, which could put them in danger of health problems due to poor nutrition. "To make wise food choices requires practice and energy," Barbe explained.Like dozens of popular diets, no one eating plan is right for every person, she said. That includes vegetarianism, although a carefully monitored meat-free diet can be beneficial to people across the age spectrum. And, all Americans could benefit from eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, Barbe said.She cautioned that some vegetarians attributes dramatic health changes to their diets, while people adopting a vegetarian lifestyle may also be making other healthier choices, such as not smoking and drinking alcohol, exercising more often, eating fewer refined, processed foods and practicing portion control. That makes it difficult for dieticians to give all the credit for total-health improvements to a meat-free diet, she explained.Some proven gains through vegetarian diets, according to {M7www.eatright.org, a site from the American Dietetic Association, include lower body mass, blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type two diabetes and colon cancer.The bottom line, according to Thomas and Barbe, is that anyone interested in a vegetarian lifestyle should educate themselves on the nutritional requirements. Those first few months without meat and dairy are certainly the most difficult, Thomas said, but the benefits she's reaped in health and energy were well worth it.

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