Ten years ago this week, the Forks Over Knives documentary film debuted, shining a spotlight on the power of a whole-food, plant-based diet to prevent and even reverse common chronic diseases. In the decade since the film’s release, we’ve been delighted to hear from hundreds who have adopted the WFPB way of eating and overcome health challenges that had previously seemed insurmountable. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’ve compiled some of the most popular Success Stories we’ve ever published. We hope they inspire you as much as they do us.
How We Cured Cystic Acne With One Simple Diet Change
At age 20, lifelong vegans Nina and Randa Nelson were devastated with a case of cystic acne so severe that it negatively impacted their quality of life. After trying everything they could think of, they heeded a family member’s suggestion that they try a WFPB diet. The twins cut out oil and oily foods and focused on eating more whole plant foods, such as grains, veggies, and fruits. To their surprise, they saw positive results almost immediately.
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From Cheese-Loving Vegetarian with Sky-High Blood Pressure to Whole-Food, Plant-Based and Healthy
For years, the prospect of giving up cheese put Anurag Darshan off the idea of going vegan, despite his high blood pressure. Finally, a friend suggested he watch the Forks Over Knives documentary. “Giving up dairy was hard for me,” says Anurag. “But my only options were to take six to eight medications daily that weren’t even helping me, or to live a healthy, long life by adopting a plant-based diet.” Today, medication-free and feeling more energetic than ever, Anurag says he prays more people will discover the benefits of this lifestyle.
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I Cut My Weight in Half on a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
When Andrea Sereda first tried a plant-based diet, things didn’t go as planned, and she experienced significant weight gain. Not one to give up, she and her husband rewatched the Forks Over Knives documentary and realized they’d missed a key step: “It was about adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,” says Andrea, “not a vegan diet in which animal-based foods were replaced by highly processed alternatives.”
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We’ve Lost 195 Pounds Combined Since Going Plant-Based
When Stephen and Sonia Steinbach switched to a WFPB diet they saw it as a healthy option that also aligned with their ethical and moral convictions. But nothing prepared them for how pleasurable it would be. “I figured we’d have to eat tasteless and bland food as a trade-off for being healthy,” says Stephen. “What surprised us (I mean really surprised us) was how easy, satisfying, and fun it was.”
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I Went from Obese to Being in the Best Shape of My Life
Until Alishea watched Forks Over Knives, she assumed her obesity and health issues were hereditary. Making the transition to a WFPB diet slowly, was key for Alishea. “The transition was the most natural thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she says. “Family and friends have asked me what my secret is, and I’m all too happy to share it.”
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How Going Plant-Based Helped Me Overcome Depression
Dominique Linden, who grew up eating fast food and other highly processed meals, couldn’t remember a time when she felt great. But at age 27, Dominique was inspired to try a WFPB diet after watching the Forks Over Knives documentary. “Following a plant-based diet has changed everything,” she says. “I’m 32 pounds lighter, and my energy and love for life are at an all-time high.”
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For My Family's Sake, I Lost 200 Pounds by Eating Plants
The desire to model healthy eating for their children was the motivation Josh and Nikki Byrd needed to ditch a life loaded with junk food and animal products. For Josh, the results were startling. He not only lost 200 pounds but also was able to come off blood pressure medication.
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After a Cancer Diagnosis, Our Family Went Plant-Based and Lost Over 300 Pounds
Justin Greener’s thyroid cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call for the whole family. After just three months on a healthy, plant-based diet, Justin, his wife, Erin, and their two children saw incredible boosts in health. “Ever since we switched to plant-based, every year has been more rewarding than the last with more physical activity, family adventures, and improved quality of foods in our diet,” says Erin.
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My Wife and I Shed a Combined 100 Pounds After Going Plant-Based
The biggest obstacle for Siddharth and Nidhi Bansal in transitioning to a WFPB diet was cultural. As Siddharth says: “There is a myth in Indian culture that food cannot taste good without oil, ghee, and heavy cream, and that food contains no nutrients without these things.” But after trial and error, Nidhi mastered the art of cooking Indian food while adhering to the principles of a whole-food, plant-based diet.
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I Conquered My Diabetes and Lost Over 150 Pounds by Going Plant-Based
When James William Booth first tried a WFPB diet, friends and family members convinced him it was unhealthy. Years later, bedridden with pain, weighing 400 pounds, and feeling miserable, he remembered how good he felt for those few weeks. He rewatched the Forks Over Knives documentary, and this time, never looked back. “My newfound health truly inspires me to shout from the mountaintops the benefits of plant-based living.”
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