As my quality of life started to deteriorate, my search for help grew
more intense. I was willing to try anything, from traditional Western
to alternative medicine. I had the desire to live a healthy life, to find a
treatment that worked, and while I was getting nowhere close to either,
I never lost hope.
One night a few years ago, I found myself watching a documentary—
Joe Cross’s Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I was incredibly moved by his
transformation. By juicing fruits and vegetables, Joe lost over a hundred
pounds and got off all of his prescription medications, completely rebooting
his life. I immediately ordered my first juicer. I soon started juicing,
blending smoothies, and cooking homemade meals again. I kept it simple
and combined fresh, seasonal ingredients for maximum nutrients and
flavor. My confidence in the kitchen grew, my migraines disappeared,
and my energy soared.
Months into my new lifestyle, I got a phone call that changed my
life. My dad had gone into sudden cardiac arrest after a massive heart
attack and had been rushed into an emergency quadruple bypass
surgery. It was the beginning of a long road to recovery for him and
the beginning of a new career for me. I found myself reading book after
book about heart disease and wellness. The more I read, the more I
realized that I wanted to help him, the rest of my family, my friends,
and everyone else I could reach to learn about the power of real food.
They say you find your strengths through life’s biggest adversities.
What I learned from my own health issues and from witnessing the
sickness of the most important people in my life is just how precious
our health is. I saw firsthand what losing it did to my own life and
those closest to me. I believe that better health and wellness should be
accessible to everyone. A big step toward that is eating real, whole food
that makes you feel vibrant from the inside out.
I want to emphasize that I’m not here to push a specific diet on
you. While all the recipes are plant based, this book welcomes all types
of eaters. Regardless of what dietary theory you associate yourself
with, this book will help you incorporate more plants into your meals.
I’ve been a vegetarian all my life, and today I enjoy a primarily plantbased
diet because that’s what makes me feel my best right now.
However, I also believe that our dietary needs are as unique as we are,
and they often shift throughout our lifetime.
Health is not about eating perfectly at every meal of every day. We
could be eating all the kale and spinach in the world, but it won’t make a
significant difference until we’ve addressed other important aspects that
may be weighing heavily on us or preventing us from living our best life.
Health is about sticking to those seemingly small habits that pay dividends:
surrounding ourselves with uplifting people, exercising regularly,
sleeping well, choosing positive thoughts, living in a supportive environment,
and so much more. It means taking the time and effort to assess
and focus on those other important aspects of our lives on a regular basis.
It’s when we bring awareness and effort into our daily lives that
transformation occurs, and we start to see big changes in our health
and life.
If you are currently struggling with your health, I assure you that
you are not alone. I know all too well how hard it is to be optimistic
when our bodies start failing us, to not give up hope. No matter where
you are in your health journey—whether you feel vibrant or not—know
that you can take the first step to changing its trajectory at this
moment. If I can do it, so can you.
Wishing you real and vibrant health,
Copyright © 2022 by Chandra, Sapana. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
