We’re learning more every day just how much real, whole foods—such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans—may help transform the way we look and feel. The truth is, we can’t keep relying on processed foods and expect to feel our best. Far too many people are walking around with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. Isn’t it time we made the connection between the way we eat and our overall health?
Let me share a true story:
A close friend of mine went to the doctor about five months ago and received some concerning news—she was borderline diabetic, and her cholesterol and blood pressure levels were also elevated. On top of that, she was carrying an extra 60 pounds. In her mid-50s, she knew she didn’t want to become another statistic, dependent on medications that often come with their own set of side effects. So, she made a decision to take control of her health.
She eliminated sugar, white flour, and processed foods from her diet. She joined Weight Watchers to learn about portion control, and she started walking daily—an hour each day, side by side with me. Five months later, she’s 40 pounds lighter, and her latest blood work showed all her levels are now within a healthy range. She feels amazing, looks fantastic, and most importantly—she’s off all medication.
And she’s not alone. I know several others who’ve taken similar steps and dramatically improved their health, simply by changing their diet and lifestyle.
The biggest culprits? Processed foods with sugar, refined flour, plastics, unhealthy oils. Processed food and lack of movement.
One simple and delicious way to help nourish your body is by making your own homemade soup using fresh vegetables. Soup is easy to make, packed with nutrition, and tastes wonderful.
You can keep soup low in fat and calories, and high in fiber—making it super satisfying. It’s one of my go-to meals for maintaining a healthy weight. There’s no better time to treat your family to a warm, wholesome bowl.
Spring Soup: Delicious recipes
Spring Green Pea Soup (link to recipe)
m
Creamy Asparagus Soup (link to recipe)
Italian Escarole Soup ( link to recipe)
Spring Asparagus Soup (link to recipe)
If you are a soup lover (like me) you might want to take a look at my soups cookbook with over 80 global soups recipes-all plant-based and most can be made in the Instant Pot. Easy Plant-Based Soups (link to Amazon) by Judee Algazi available on Amazon.
All of my recipes are gluten-free and plant-based
Congratulations to your friend. Quality of life is so important!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to me what a difference a plant-based diet can make.
ReplyDeleteI like the kitchen, too. Mine looks nothing like that!
ReplyDeleteI like the look of your book.
100% agree in the POWER OF FOOD! Have you a chance to grab Rebecca Wood's Whole Food Encyclopedia. I have the first edition from way back when the world was flat and it's STILL the best book I own on whole foods.
ReplyDeleteI just love it.
This is wonderful. Three cheers to your friend. I've been trying to do that (the holidays mess me up!) and it's not easy. But trying! Pretty kitchen!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how walking and whole foods can have such an impact.
ReplyDeleteTandy (Lavender and Lime) https://tandysinclair.com
Your friend deserves a great deal of credit and no doubt you do too for encouraging her and providing support in her fight to regain good health. I am always astounded when I see people at the supermarket checkout with an entire basket full of processed food. For some, cooking must surely mean take it out of the box and heat it!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how we can change our health by simply eliminating refined sugars, gluten, and processed foods? Kudos to your friend for taking control of her health and implementing dietary changes to feel better!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I put myself on an anti-inflammatory diet to deal with my arthritic knees. Within two days of no sugar whatsoever (I rarely eat processed foods) I felt better. After a month, I can’t believe how quickly I can move around. I’m sold! Now for dessert I have blackberries and vanilla Greek yogurt, and find it delicious and decadent.
ReplyDeleteoooooh i was so jealous, i thought that WAS your kitchen. this is a great post, very informative and uplifting!! i'm sure your friend feels so much better!!
ReplyDeletesecond look, still love that kitchen!!
DeleteThat kitchen is my dream!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how quickly we can notice improvements in various bodily functions when we adjust our diets. I'm not vegan, but try to eat only whole ingredients and it just...feels so much better!
Thank you for sharing your story with us today. The meals I prepare are pretty healthy, but my downfall is the pastries and goodies that I enjoy with my coffee. The creamy asparagus soup sounds wonderful, and perfect on this cold Spring day.
ReplyDeleteHave a peaceful Sunday, and good week ahead.
~Sheri
I agree most Americans have bad diets and eat too much processed foods with fat and salt. Going back to a diet with lots of veggies makes a difference. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous kitchen! Thank you so much for sharing this post, I love to eat healthy foods and seeing the photos and recipes here has made my day!
ReplyDeleteThat's my sort of kitchen as well! As I'm now gluten and diary free, I've been enjoying your blog posts!
ReplyDeleteWell done to your friend.
ReplyDeleteEat whole fresh food, stay away from processed!
All the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
Changing the diet and having healthy lifestyle is definitely the key to good health.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news about your friend - congratulations to her! And I've bookmarked your soup recipes and am looking forward to trying the Asparagus one this week!
ReplyDeleteThat is great to hear about your friend. Eating healthy and getting active can make a worlds difference.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely a soup lover. Thank you for all these recipes. Well done to your friend. I also have a friend who just lost a huge amount of weight by cutting sugar entirely.
ReplyDeleteOoooo...thanks for all of these recipes. My sweet hubby wants soup all this week. He starts his first radiation treatment this week and he said he thinks that soup would be the best thing for him to eat. Glad to have some extra recipes...thank you..
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive transformation journey your friend had - great dedication. In our family, sweets are the main culprit (cannot say "no" to ice cream and chocolate haha), but we're trying to balance out by eating healthy meals throughout the week.
ReplyDeleteYour friend’s story is inspiring—just shows how much of a difference real food and daily movement can make. And yes, homemade soup is the best—healthy, easy, and always hits the spot. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete