Success Stories
"Being a 65 year old with 20 years as a type 2 Diabetic, I did not have much desire to try any new diet. However, after much cajoling from my wife, I committed to start the New Year and try the plant based approach for just three weeks. Luckily, she was taking the Food for Life Cancer class the first week in January, so I tagged along to see what this was all about. As a lifelong engineer, I always need to see research based evidence, and after my first class it as very apparent the plant based approach just made sense. After completing the diabetes class series, I was thriving so much eating a plant based diet, I signed up for the Food for Life cancer class.
The proof in what these classes have done for me shows up in my recent lab work. After three months on the program, my Cholesterol is down to 135, my A1c has gone from 10 to 6.1, my weight has been reduced by 25 pounds, and my HDL and LDL are in the 40 – 60 range. My diabetes doctor says at this rate I will be off my daily diabetes shots and medicine within 3 months. Phil and the Food for Life classes have really helped me change my life."
Bob Kniefel
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I will be forever grateful to Phil Eherenman. I have wanted to eat a cleaner whole foods diet for years but never seemed to be able to find the 'Will Power'. The information I learned in Phil's class, along with his incredible passion and enthusiasm for the health that can be achieved by following this path, have made all the difference.
I now am able to eat the way I always wished I could, and my body has responded wonderfully. I have gone from diabetic to officially 'non-diabetic'. My leg veins, which hurt constantly, are no longer an issue. I have lost 20 lbs. and am still looking forward to more. I am happy, whereas before I was depressed. I still have 40 lbs. to loose, so I know this is only the beginning of the benefits I will receive!
If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Phil, I absolutely can not recommend it highly enough. It is worth any time, effort or money you could ever put into it."
THANK YOU PHIL!!!
Dana Spadafora
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"This is the third class I've taken through Phil, and without a single doubt, they have changed my life. I was diagnosed with MS in 2006. I've tried lots of things to help my MS and the serious pains I had with it, and adapting to a plant based diet was the best thing that has ever helped me. I used to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and I took 2000 to 3000mg of ibuprofen a day to take care of my aches and pains. After my family and I switched to a plant based diet all of our lives have changed. My kids are not sick all the time and they are happy and healthy too. I no longer have high blood pressure or cholesterol, and the big thing is I don't take ibuprofen but about once a year for a small headache. In September I will go to Dr. McDougal in California and learn how to treat my MS with the food I eat and hopefully get off the $17,000 a month MS medication I'm on which has a side effect of Death. I'm 100% confident this will change my life even more. I just need to say thank you to Phil for teaching these classes and saving and changing me and my families lives. Eat plant based and be healthy and happy !!!"
Travis Johnson
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“I had gone plant-based about six months before taking the Cancer Prevention and Survival class in order to help control my seborrheic dermatitis, which there is no medical cure. I have seen several specialists and spent lots of money trying to fight it, but would consistently flare up once a month. After five years of fighting this ailment, I was desperate for a solution so I went on a whole-foods, plant-based diet. It worked immediately and I have been flare-up free since starting the diet, the longest period since being diagnosed five years ago. I mostly ate veggie stir-fries for the first six months, but after taking Phil’s class, I’m eating more variety than I ever have and was able to learn to create many of the flavors and textures I had enjoyed from my old diet (including non-dairy cheeses). I have also lost 25 lbs., putting me back to my ideal BMI weight. I highly recommend this class for everyone.”
Thank you,
Jeff
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Because of this class my husband and I now have the basic tools to make some great lifestyle changes. We now have an elementary scientific understanding of how nutrition can affect every aspect of our physical well-being that supports our will power to eat healthy. Just as importantly, we have a newly discovered understanding of what is healthy food and how to cook healthy meals. There is a learning curve trying to cook plant-based. This class with the cooking demonstrations and resources has helped us immensely.
Before the class my husband was waking up every night with a severe aching in his knees. I also had continuous joint pain in my knees and elbows daily. But within 10 days of eating plant-based, both of us were joint pain free. It’s been about 6 weeks now since we started eating a diet free of meat, dairy, and oils. My husband has lost 12 pounds and I have lost 6. We both have more energy and a better attitude at the end of each day.
I had gestational diabetes with my last child who’s now two, and I had a taste of what it was like to live with the disease. Now I’m in the high risk category of getting it back, but because of this class I have a greater opportunity to keep the disease at bay. The excitement I feel about doing something healthy for myself and my family now far outweigh the desires of unhealthy food."
Brenda and Ted
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"I just finished a seven week series of the Food for Life Cancer Prevention and Nutrition cooking classes, which I recommend with enthusiasm. In a nutshell, I added to my body of knowledge about how foods and nutrients affect cancer growth. The program is research based, developed by PCRM, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Their website is full of great information.
I knew that this class taught healthy, plant based recipes, so I signed up to learn interesting ways to prepare vegetables. I learned way, way more than this. We learned how the interaction of enzymes, hormones, chemicals, etc. in our food promotes or inhibits tumors. And I learned convincing arguments why we don't need dairy in our diet. Ditto on animal protein. Our American diet is very high in animal protein, and we have correspondingly high rates of kidney disease.
Phil demonstrated 5 recipes in every class, which we all tasted. They are easy, uncomplicated and really tasted good. I'll be able to use what I learned in my school nurse practice, helping families with good food choices. Phil is one of only about 200 certified Food for Life instructors in the US, so we are fortunate to have this resource available to us."
Veronica
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Thanks Phil! Not just for the information, but for what your class has done for us! I can't tell you how nice it is to have my husband back! He had given up before. Most people couldn't see it because he would wear a brave face for others, but there is a definite change in his attitude toward life - he has hope again for a future! - and we both owe that to you!!”
Janice B.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Even though I felt I was following a pretty healthy diet compared to the average American going into your classes, you showed me how much room for improvement I could still make in my health. Even though my A1C was normal at 5.7 before your classes, after adopting a mostly plant base diet it has dropped to 5.2 at the end of Diabetes class. The quality and importance of the information you relayed in an informative, interesting and engaging way cannot be under estimated. You are a great instructor, and I am sure there are lots of folks who owe their new found health to you and your classes. You've chosen a very inspirational way to spend some of your retirement time!"
Beth V.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Phil's class, Cancer Prevention & Survival, continues to have the most impact of any class I've ever taken (including college). I considered myself to be a healthy and active person (vegetarian for 33 years) but I have been overweight for all my adult life. I've tried so many diets and exercise programs/fads and would lose the weight and then gain back more. I had no interest whatsoever in food preparation. Phil's class dramatically changed my life. I lost 20lbs in seven weeks, eat more than I ever have, and enjoy and understand the food I'm preparing. I went from zero interest in nutrition and foods to being a foodie". Take this class; it'll change your life in more ways than you can imagine."
Carolyn
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I jumped in with both feet when I started the Cancer Prevention and Survival class. After just six weeks of eating the recommended foods, I have lost 14 pounds and my cholesterol has dropped to 134 mg/dl. It is fun trying all the new recipes and experiencing new ingredients in my cooking. Since I am never hungry or bored with the food choices, I plan on making this a permanent lifestyle. Thanks for all the information, support, and comradery that the class provided."
Judy
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Taking both classes was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made--living better and improving your health with good food and not medicines is definitely the best way to go. Since taking that first class in May, my blood pressure is now normal, my A1C (diabetes marker) has gone down, and I have lost 20 pounds! All this just from simply changing the way that I eat – eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and without feeling hungry! Thank you!"
Marchea
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Thanks again for your Cancer Prevention and Survival class. It was really great and I learned so much. I wanted to tell you that I have really been pushing the fruits and veggies since the class started. I tested my cholesterol last week and my total from six months ago went from 248 to 201 and my LDL went from 146 to 120 :) My HDL stayed the same at 60 which is good! No medicines for me which makes me so happy. I bought a little food processor like yours and today bit the bullet and went to Costco and now am the proud owner of a Vita Mix!! Keep up the good work. I have told everyone I know about your class!"
Susan
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"I attended the Cancer Prevention and Survival class earlier this summer and enjoyed meeting other folks and finding easy-to-make recipes. After the class I found that I seemed to always have a container of Cheesy Beany Spread and one of the “Parmesan” Cheese in the frig. The Cheesy Beany spread finds its way on sandwiches, on flat bread, or on backed potatoes; I sprinkle the “Parmesan” Cheese on just about everything. These are great recipes to have on hand. Phil makes each class fun and exciting—and I learned so much! Thank you, Phil, for a healthier me!"
Anna
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Phil's class on Cancer Prevention and Survival was my second Food for Life Class. I started with Diabetes Prevention a year ago and found it easy to make the changes that have improved my health. My cholesterol is down, A1C is improved and I am feeling great. And I love the food. Phil is an inspiring teacher, offering encouragement and information. He is good at answering questions and allows time for discussion and sharing of tips and successes. I'm so glad I took the second class as it gave me more recipes and the support to make positive changes in my diet. Thank you, Phil."
Sue
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Being a 65 year old with 20 years as a type 2 Diabetic, I did not have much desire to try any new diet. However, after much cajoling from my wife, I committed to start the New Year and try the plant based approach for just three weeks. Luckily, she was taking the Food for Life Cancer class the first week in January, so I tagged along to see what this was all about. As a lifelong engineer, I always need to see research based evidence, and after my first class it as very apparent the plant based approach just made sense. After completing the diabetes class series, I was thriving so much eating a plant based diet, I signed up for the Food for Life cancer class.
The proof in what these classes have done for me shows up in my recent lab work. After three months on the program, my Cholesterol is down to 135, my A1c has gone from 10 to 6.1, my weight has been reduced by 25 pounds, and my HDL and LDL are in the 40 – 60 range. My diabetes doctor says at this rate I will be off my daily diabetes shots and medicine within 3 months. Phil and the Food for Life classes have really helped me change my life."
Bob Kniefel
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I will be forever grateful to Phil Eherenman. I have wanted to eat a cleaner whole foods diet for years but never seemed to be able to find the 'Will Power'. The information I learned in Phil's class, along with his incredible passion and enthusiasm for the health that can be achieved by following this path, have made all the difference.
I now am able to eat the way I always wished I could, and my body has responded wonderfully. I have gone from diabetic to officially 'non-diabetic'. My leg veins, which hurt constantly, are no longer an issue. I have lost 20 lbs. and am still looking forward to more. I am happy, whereas before I was depressed. I still have 40 lbs. to loose, so I know this is only the beginning of the benefits I will receive!
If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Phil, I absolutely can not recommend it highly enough. It is worth any time, effort or money you could ever put into it."
THANK YOU PHIL!!!
Dana Spadafora
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"This is the third class I've taken through Phil, and without a single doubt, they have changed my life. I was diagnosed with MS in 2006. I've tried lots of things to help my MS and the serious pains I had with it, and adapting to a plant based diet was the best thing that has ever helped me. I used to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and I took 2000 to 3000mg of ibuprofen a day to take care of my aches and pains. After my family and I switched to a plant based diet all of our lives have changed. My kids are not sick all the time and they are happy and healthy too. I no longer have high blood pressure or cholesterol, and the big thing is I don't take ibuprofen but about once a year for a small headache. In September I will go to Dr. McDougal in California and learn how to treat my MS with the food I eat and hopefully get off the $17,000 a month MS medication I'm on which has a side effect of Death. I'm 100% confident this will change my life even more. I just need to say thank you to Phil for teaching these classes and saving and changing me and my families lives. Eat plant based and be healthy and happy !!!"
Travis Johnson
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“I had gone plant-based about six months before taking the Cancer Prevention and Survival class in order to help control my seborrheic dermatitis, which there is no medical cure. I have seen several specialists and spent lots of money trying to fight it, but would consistently flare up once a month. After five years of fighting this ailment, I was desperate for a solution so I went on a whole-foods, plant-based diet. It worked immediately and I have been flare-up free since starting the diet, the longest period since being diagnosed five years ago. I mostly ate veggie stir-fries for the first six months, but after taking Phil’s class, I’m eating more variety than I ever have and was able to learn to create many of the flavors and textures I had enjoyed from my old diet (including non-dairy cheeses). I have also lost 25 lbs., putting me back to my ideal BMI weight. I highly recommend this class for everyone.”
Thank you,
Jeff
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Because of this class my husband and I now have the basic tools to make some great lifestyle changes. We now have an elementary scientific understanding of how nutrition can affect every aspect of our physical well-being that supports our will power to eat healthy. Just as importantly, we have a newly discovered understanding of what is healthy food and how to cook healthy meals. There is a learning curve trying to cook plant-based. This class with the cooking demonstrations and resources has helped us immensely.
Before the class my husband was waking up every night with a severe aching in his knees. I also had continuous joint pain in my knees and elbows daily. But within 10 days of eating plant-based, both of us were joint pain free. It’s been about 6 weeks now since we started eating a diet free of meat, dairy, and oils. My husband has lost 12 pounds and I have lost 6. We both have more energy and a better attitude at the end of each day.
I had gestational diabetes with my last child who’s now two, and I had a taste of what it was like to live with the disease. Now I’m in the high risk category of getting it back, but because of this class I have a greater opportunity to keep the disease at bay. The excitement I feel about doing something healthy for myself and my family now far outweigh the desires of unhealthy food."
Brenda and Ted
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"I just finished a seven week series of the Food for Life Cancer Prevention and Nutrition cooking classes, which I recommend with enthusiasm. In a nutshell, I added to my body of knowledge about how foods and nutrients affect cancer growth. The program is research based, developed by PCRM, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Their website is full of great information.
I knew that this class taught healthy, plant based recipes, so I signed up to learn interesting ways to prepare vegetables. I learned way, way more than this. We learned how the interaction of enzymes, hormones, chemicals, etc. in our food promotes or inhibits tumors. And I learned convincing arguments why we don't need dairy in our diet. Ditto on animal protein. Our American diet is very high in animal protein, and we have correspondingly high rates of kidney disease.
Phil demonstrated 5 recipes in every class, which we all tasted. They are easy, uncomplicated and really tasted good. I'll be able to use what I learned in my school nurse practice, helping families with good food choices. Phil is one of only about 200 certified Food for Life instructors in the US, so we are fortunate to have this resource available to us."
Veronica
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Thanks Phil! Not just for the information, but for what your class has done for us! I can't tell you how nice it is to have my husband back! He had given up before. Most people couldn't see it because he would wear a brave face for others, but there is a definite change in his attitude toward life - he has hope again for a future! - and we both owe that to you!!”
Janice B.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Even though I felt I was following a pretty healthy diet compared to the average American going into your classes, you showed me how much room for improvement I could still make in my health. Even though my A1C was normal at 5.7 before your classes, after adopting a mostly plant base diet it has dropped to 5.2 at the end of Diabetes class. The quality and importance of the information you relayed in an informative, interesting and engaging way cannot be under estimated. You are a great instructor, and I am sure there are lots of folks who owe their new found health to you and your classes. You've chosen a very inspirational way to spend some of your retirement time!"
Beth V.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Phil's class, Cancer Prevention & Survival, continues to have the most impact of any class I've ever taken (including college). I considered myself to be a healthy and active person (vegetarian for 33 years) but I have been overweight for all my adult life. I've tried so many diets and exercise programs/fads and would lose the weight and then gain back more. I had no interest whatsoever in food preparation. Phil's class dramatically changed my life. I lost 20lbs in seven weeks, eat more than I ever have, and enjoy and understand the food I'm preparing. I went from zero interest in nutrition and foods to being a foodie". Take this class; it'll change your life in more ways than you can imagine."
Carolyn
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I jumped in with both feet when I started the Cancer Prevention and Survival class. After just six weeks of eating the recommended foods, I have lost 14 pounds and my cholesterol has dropped to 134 mg/dl. It is fun trying all the new recipes and experiencing new ingredients in my cooking. Since I am never hungry or bored with the food choices, I plan on making this a permanent lifestyle. Thanks for all the information, support, and comradery that the class provided."
Judy
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Taking both classes was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made--living better and improving your health with good food and not medicines is definitely the best way to go. Since taking that first class in May, my blood pressure is now normal, my A1C (diabetes marker) has gone down, and I have lost 20 pounds! All this just from simply changing the way that I eat – eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and without feeling hungry! Thank you!"
Marchea
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Thanks again for your Cancer Prevention and Survival class. It was really great and I learned so much. I wanted to tell you that I have really been pushing the fruits and veggies since the class started. I tested my cholesterol last week and my total from six months ago went from 248 to 201 and my LDL went from 146 to 120 :) My HDL stayed the same at 60 which is good! No medicines for me which makes me so happy. I bought a little food processor like yours and today bit the bullet and went to Costco and now am the proud owner of a Vita Mix!! Keep up the good work. I have told everyone I know about your class!"
Susan
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"I attended the Cancer Prevention and Survival class earlier this summer and enjoyed meeting other folks and finding easy-to-make recipes. After the class I found that I seemed to always have a container of Cheesy Beany Spread and one of the “Parmesan” Cheese in the frig. The Cheesy Beany spread finds its way on sandwiches, on flat bread, or on backed potatoes; I sprinkle the “Parmesan” Cheese on just about everything. These are great recipes to have on hand. Phil makes each class fun and exciting—and I learned so much! Thank you, Phil, for a healthier me!"
Anna
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Phil's class on Cancer Prevention and Survival was my second Food for Life Class. I started with Diabetes Prevention a year ago and found it easy to make the changes that have improved my health. My cholesterol is down, A1C is improved and I am feeling great. And I love the food. Phil is an inspiring teacher, offering encouragement and information. He is good at answering questions and allows time for discussion and sharing of tips and successes. I'm so glad I took the second class as it gave me more recipes and the support to make positive changes in my diet. Thank you, Phil."
Sue
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________