Vegan Stories

At age 20, Joy Matwyshen began dealing with constant bladder infections and blood in her urine. She spent four years taking numerous prescription drugs that led to one side effect after another.

Life changed dramatically for Joy when she switched to a raw organic diet. Learning the difference between living to eat and eating to live culminated in a journey to vibrant health.

Today, Joy is 67 and feels stronger and healthier than ever. She is vibrant, full of energy, and never become sick. Joy, who lives near The Villages, helps others enjoy a healthy lifestyle through her book, “Organic Gardening Made Easy,” and her e-book, “Vibrant Organic Salads.”

Nearly 95 percent of what Joy eats is raw food. She grows her own food organically and also purchases organic produce from several local farms.

When asked about the vegan journey of my family of four, I can honestly share that I would not change a single thing.

Just over three years ago, we were dutifully grilling burgers and slow roasting ribs along with the majority of families in America. Then, after hearing about it through a television sitcom, we gradually began to embrace Meatless Monday in order to do our part in preserving the environment. Surprisingly enough, Meatless Monday quickly grew into meatless Wednesday, Friday, and most days in between.

It was when health concerns reared their ugly heads and nudged us to watch a choice documentary or two (to find alternative treatments beyond mindlessly popping pills filled with unwanted side affects) that we took the full-on plunge into the bountiful and affirming lifestyle of Veganism.

Now, healthy and happier in at least a thousand ways, we’ve never ever, looked back.”

—Renee DeLeon

Having been born and raised in Atlanta, Kathy Freston was no stranger to chicken-fried steak, barbecue ribs, and cheese grits. Those foods tasted scrumptious but were not an ideal recipe to achieve outstanding health.

As a result, she decided to become a vegan 12 years ago. That has been one of the best decisions she has ever made. Her acne—yes, she had acne as an adult—instantly cleared up, she gradually lost weight, and she enjoyed more energy throughout the day.

Today, Kathy loves sharing with others about the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle. The bestselling author has written numerous books, including “The Lean,” “Quantum Wellness: A Practical Guide to Health and Happiness,” and “Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World.”

To say her books have a profound impact on readers would be an understatement.

“I’ve received many beautiful letters throughout the years,” she said. “People tell me there’s a disconnect between their love of animals and what’s actually on their dinner plate.”

For Kathy, a typical breakfast consists of oatmeal with banana; lunch includes brown rice, black beans, and sliced avocado; dinner is served with mashed sweet potatoes, corn, broccoli, and grilled tofu.

Kidney infections. Shingles. Constant hospitalizations.

That was the difficult life Courtney Howard endured as a 30-year-old mother raising two children. Life became a struggle as she battled idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disease characterized by a low amount of platelets in the blood. Each day, she battled insomnia, extreme mood fluctuations, and anxiety.

Fortunately, her fighting spirit didn’t allow her to succumb to the disease. She made important lifestyle changes and completely eliminated dairy, gluten, sugar, and grains from her diet.

That decision paid big dividends. Her platelet level has remained stable, and the symptoms of her disease have improved considerably.

“I look and feel like an entirely new person,” she said. “I started feeling better on the third day of my diet. I became very excited about seeing the positive health benefits.”

In 2011, Courtney used that excitement to begin an online blog called the Naked Avocado. Her food and lifestyle blog highlights some of her favorite recipes and shares her inspirational story of healing through food. Now, people throughout the country faithfully visit the site so they can begin their own journey toward healthy eating.