Macrobiotic chef Marisa Marinelli recently shared how switching her diet cured her years-long struggle with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcertive Colitis. Check out her inspiring story:

Halfway through class I begin to struggle. I walk away from the ballet barre and sit down in the corner, no longer able to ignore the unease and discomfort in my stomach. My Advanced Ballet III professor approaches me after class, concerned about my behavior. "This might sound weird," I say to him, "but I feel like I can't feel my stomach, like it's numb." With a look of skepticism and obvious condescendence he replies with minimal sensitivity. "Well, I just think you have a weak center."

That memory has always stuck with me; my professor, even with his hint of arrogance, was correct about my weak center. I was a 19-year-old college student, training to become a professional dancer, when I was diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but the numbness I had been feeling was the beginnings of severe inflammation of the colon.

I have actually been told I'm lucky. It only took two colonoscopies for my doctor to say, "Good news! You don't have Crohn's Disease, it's only Ulcerative Colitis." If that's "luck," I wonder what winning the lottery is like. Having never heard of either disease, at that time I couldn't understand how my life would never be the same.

It's been a seven-year journey ofstruggles and success, but today I finally understand that my health was not a matter of "luck"- it was a matter of choice. I was fortunate enough to have learned about macrobiotics; to have the option to choose an alternative healing path, I chose to heal.

After my diagnosis I suffered immensely for several years. Flare-ups would come and go monthly and I'd find myself in the hospital for weeks at a time. Severe diarrhea and vomiting caused me to loose so much weight and muscle mass. I had difficulty walking, let alone dancing. I never knew what to eat and I was always in pain. My doctors would treat me with powerful, harsh anti-inflammatory drugs to ease my bouts of illness.

I wouldn't offer a dose of prednisone to even my worst enemy. The side effects are torturous. I sacrificed whatever healthy organs I had left to prednisone. One year after my diagnosis I learned, in addition to the ulcerative colitis, I was one the 5% of all IBD patients in the world to develop a secondary reaction to the disease called Pyoderma Gangrenosum. In this rare instance, inflammation is no longer contained in the colon; it is systemic.

Ulcers can begin to develop on my limbs. If ulceration grows into the bones, the doctors would have no choice but to amputate that limb. Being that my case was so rare, my doctor had never treated or met a patient with these conditions. Confused, he believed that I was the worst case of ulcerative colitis he had ever seen.

Extreme high dosages of prednisone seemed to be necessary to put me into a temporary remission. Because I had a strong, dancer's body, I survived the first huge flare with all my limbs and no surgery. However, a few months after I was off the drug, I would relapse into the same cycle and find myself back in the hospital.

I feared that this drug-dependent life was the only choice I had. 

Surgery was never an option for me. Call me superficial, but I wasn't willing to part with any of my body parts. Drugs were not the answer; they would only weaken my immune system and that's not something I'm willing to sacrifice. And, who wants to take 20 pills a day for the rest of their life? Doctors could not offer me any other hope, so I began to look for alternative options. Macrobiotics was my answer.

I became friends with a young girl, who also suffered with ulcerative colitis.  She gave me a book to read called Controlling Crohn's Disease The Natural Way. The book is written by Virginia Harper, a woman who healed her Crohn's disease through a macrobiotic-based diet and lifestyle. I read the book, cover to cover, in 2days. "This makes sense," I thought. "I have nothing left to loose, so I might as well give it a try." I never imagined my body being "off balance." Can sea vegetables and brown rice really make a difference to my body? I found Virginia's Web site and contacted her for a consultation as soon as possible. Macrobiotics provided a new hope for me, and a new life.

Nobody says change is easy.

Being from a first-generation Italian family, food is a huge part of our culture. We love it and can't get enough of it. Pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce were my main food groups. If you didn't lick your plate clean, Nonna (or "grandmother," in Italian) would chase you around the kitchen with that last bite on her spoon. I never thought about how food affected my body because I was always very thin and fit. When I told my family I was changing my diet drastically, they had no idea how big of a change I intended.

With family and friends, I suddenly became the "weird girl" who didn't eat meat or dairy. I'll never forget the time I went to the beach and a friend jokingly asked if " I was going to eat the seaweed for lunch?"  For someone who didn't want to change her diet in the first place, it was very difficult to find motivation to keep on this path. Not only were the comments, and sometimes jokes, hurtful; I didn't know how to cook! The first time I had to make brown rice I asked my mom, "How does it cook?" I couldn't pronounce any of the foreign foods, or find them at my local supermarket. An ume-what plum? But the biggest boost of confidence and motivation was that IT WORKED!

Within the first month of committing to whole grain, beans and vegetables, my symptoms were gone. After a few more months on a macrobiotic approach, I saw a huge difference in myself; more energy, calmer moods, better sleep and I was happy! I was able to return to dance and enjoy it more than ever.

My story doesn't end there.

Making the change to a macrobiotic diet and lifestyle was, and still is, one of the hardest things I've done in my life. Even after seven years, there are continuous ups and downs. Thankfully, however, it gets easier. The great news is, I have the rest of my life ahead of me to live fully. There was a time of my life when I thought life wasn't worth living if you couldn't enjoy some macaroni and cheese; I was wrong. Honestly, today, I can say I don't miss it.

The rewards of eating good food push me through the hardest of times. Don't forget your support group. People come into (and leave) your life for a reason. I have learned to take every experience for what it is, and then let go. Stay close to those that are truly supportive. Family is forever, but it's okay to disagree when it comes to what's best for you.

It's during the most challenging parts of life that a person needs to be the strongest and make the wisest, and often most difficult, of choices. I chose to be thankful for my disease. I wanted to heal myself: mind, body and soul. I made the decision to do whatever it took to find a way to heal myself because I was NOT going to spend any more of my life being ill. I was, and still am, a young adult with lots of ambition and dreams. My body was weak; my will power was not.

I've witnessed many people faced with a serious health issues, turn away from hope. "This isn't an option for me" or "It's too hard." We all have a choice in our life to create our own destiny and it's up to us to decide what we want that to be.

I've made the choice to heal and hope to inspire others to do the same. I've chosen food and life over doctors, drugs and surgeries. I've learned at a young age that if you don't have your health, you really don't have anything at all.

To those who are lucky enough to come across my story, please know for life and health, you always have a choice.

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, Marisa! To learn more about Marisa’s journey, check out her website or watch her today, Thursday, January 19 on the season premiere of the Veria Network's The Incurables.

If any of you kind lifers have a success story you’d like to share, private message me or post a note to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life.

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Kind Lifer Karly recently shared how researching factory farming has helped her to continue her kind journey. Check it out:
 
“I am writing you to share with you a small story of inspiration that I credit quite a bit to you. This past semester, I decided to go back to school. I had traveled a lot over the last few years, and done various things in order to ‘find myself.’ Now at twenty-three years old, I feel like I am on a path. School was a challenge for me at first, and I recently was diagnosed with ADD. This was quite disheartening, but I realized I could either hide from it or take it full throttle and battle it with strength. With the mental change, I decided I wanted to make a physical change as well. I then picked up your book The Kind Diet, and it really helped me to grow and see that food is a healing tool. I still am on my ADD meds, but adopting a kind diet (slowly...I’m still a bit of a ‘flirt’) has been an incredibly beneficial and educational tool in helping to conquer my ADD.
 
Because of this growth and movement in my life over the past few months, I had the opportunity to decide between two options for a final research paper for my English class: write about an issue with education or volunteer and write on a social matter of my choice. Your book and writings inspired me heavily, therefore I chose to write about the environmental, economical and personally physical impact of factory farming and genetically modified foods. Because of this paper, I know that if I really work hard at something, I can achieve incredible things, all while educating myself and others at the same time. I’ve discovered writing as a passion, and I feel like I am now on a path toward fulfilling that.”
 
Yay, Karly! Keep us updated on your kind journey, and be sure to reach out to other flirts, vegans, and superheroes in the kind forum for advice and support. All you kind lifers can also read Karly’s paper here.
 
If any of you have a success story to share, private message me or upload your story to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

The health section is proudly sponsored by Kaeng Raeng natural detox. Make sure to check out their 3 or 6 day vegan detox programs here:

Kind Lifer Jaki recently shared how giving up sugar helped her to lose weight and clear up her skin. Check it out:

“I gave up sugar for 30 days and thought I'd share my experience with you. It was a really good journey that helped me health wise and also taught me that there are so many products out there with added sugar!! It's ridiculous how things that you wouldn't think needed any sugar have it added.

I did slip up twice on purpose (not because of cravings). My favorite restaurant was closing down, so I had to have my favorite dish which I am pretty sure would've contained sugar. I also had some of the dessert and hot apple cider on Thanksgiving because I didn't want to miss out. When I did eat that, I noticed how I got a headache from it and how it affected me, which I wouldn't have noticed before I started the challenge.

I lost weight from doing this challenge, my skin cleared up, and I have so much energy! The good kind of energy - not the kind from a sugar high. I can't sit still, I always want to be outside doing something! I'll go for a run and ten minutes later I'm ready to go play tennis! It's fantastic!

I really recommend that everyone gives it a go, because you don't realise how much sugar rules your life until you try to give it up.”
 
Congrats, Jaki! You can read more about Jaki’s journey on her blog. And you can read about how I broke up with sugar here.
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story to share, private message me or upload your story to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of  The Kind Life!

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Kind Lifer Paloma recently shared how she’s adopted a kind diet in her home city of Buenos Aires. Check it out:
 
“Last year I discovered your site and started to know a little bit of the vegan lifestyle, but this is something not very common here in my country. There are some people who are vegetarian, and a few vegans, but that's it. In October 2010, my parents traveled to New York, and I specifically asked them to bring me a copy of your book. I wanted to know what this kind life was all about. The day they gave it to me, I read it cover to cover in one evening. It was so compelling! I flirted with veganism for a whole year. It was very difficult, given the fact that some products are very hard to find, my crazy routine, and, especially the fact that I am a sugar junkie!!! However, a month ago, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance (pretty much, pre-diabetes). So, I felt like this was the moment to fully commit to myself, to my body and health, and especially to the planet! So, I started a 100% superhero diet three days ago. I've never felt so good! I have mind clarity, and am able to concentrate like I couldn't in months. My skin is starting to look better than ever. I really, really hope to be able to lose some weight, given that I'm following the superhero plan, so will be trying to do some exercise four or five days a week. I've been feeling the symptoms of letting sugar go, but I know it will go away in a couple days and that it is for the best. So, thank you so much for inspiring me in this new trip! I hope to be writing to you soon to tell you everything's even better!”
 
Yay, I love this so much…so, so happy to hear this! A dear woman I know named Susana Lombardi founded an amazing place called We Care. She is vegan and also from Argentina. She jokes that she used to eat so much meat that in her country, where they eat tons of meat, she was known as a “the meat eater,” because she ate even more than everyone else. And then she changed completely! Anywho, I love that little story, and I love that you are doing this Paloma! Keep us updated on your progress and be sure to check out the kind forum for encouragement and support!
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story to share, private message me or upload your story to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

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Kind Lifer Christine recently shared how much better she feels after switching to a kind diet.
 
“I started my kind journey February 16th of this year. I woke up that morning to a show talking about The Kind Diet, so I was curious. I went to the bookstore and picked it up and started reading it in the car…I went cold turkey and didn’t look back.
 
It has been eight months. I went from 212 pounds to 179. Thirty-three pounds gone and still losing. I feel so much better! All my bad feelings and ailments have gone away. I have more energy. My husband is very supportive. We recently went to a screening of Forks over Knives, and that convinced my husband to take the plunge. Now he is taking the journey with me.
 
Also, my 17 year-old daughter started and is now baking vegan goods. They are so delish! A lot from your book. My 11 year old is now a vegi too. My boys are a no go, but I am working on it! I am even getting a vegan tattoo. I’m so excited!!!”
 
Yay, Christine! Keep us updated on your kind journey.
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story you’d like to share, private message me or post a note to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

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Kind Lifer Carly recently shared how adopting a kind diet, particularly cutting out dairy, helped her to become more emotionally balanced. Check it out:
 
“I've been reading so many inspiring stories on your site from people whose health is being positively impacted by The Kind Diet. It's so inspiring! And I feel I need to share mine with you, because you have led me to a remedy for my mental health issues. This has been a life-long search for me, always feeling out of balance and just wanting to feel grounded. From birth, I have always been over-sensitive emotionally and prone to fits of anger and frustration for no reason at all. I began experiencing anxiety disorders at the age of ten, and depression as a teenager. The worst, however, was my random, emotional weeping or angry outbursts at my loved ones. My mother said at the age of two, I started having fits and she could never figure out what was happening. This past July, I was at a point where I bought a book on borderline personality disorder because I exhibted about 85% of the symptoms. I had been dabbling in The Kind Diet for the past couple years, but had a very hard time giving up dairy. I have always had a deep love for all dairy foods and probably ate it at every meal. I made the decision to give a kind diet a real shot and cut out the dairy. I cannot explain what a difference it has made in my life, in just two months! Out of curiosity, I've had dairy a couple times to see if I notice a difference, and it is so clear to me now. My body and mind become so agitated immediately. I told my mom about the discovery, and she told me it made sense. I was bottle fed as an infant, and she had to switch from cow's milk to soy formula because I would break out in a rash. Dairy was introduced back into my diet later, and because I showed no signs of a rash, she didn't remove it. I never thought about food allergies affecting the mental state, and I don't think many people do, including my mom, who always loved and supported my effort to find my mental happiness. I just want to thank you for writing your book. I feel it has led me to this long, sought-after answer to being mentally healthy. Thank you.”
 
Thank you for sharing your story, Carly!
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story to share, private message me or upload your story to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

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Kind Lifer Kasey recently shared how changing her diet helped her to restore some mild hearing loss. Check it out:
 
“I don't know if you've ever heard of this before, but apparently, a kind diet has reversed my partial hearing loss!

A little over two years ago, at age 36, I was diagnosed with mild hearing impairment. A few months later, I went vegan. When I went back for my annual hearing test the next year, the audiologist was surprised to find that my hearing had improved! He said that sometimes that can happen with major changes in diet, presumably because something in the diet had been causing sinus problems or inflammation. But they told me not to get too excited, because it might be temporary.

Well, yesterday I went back for this year's annual exam. The improvement stuck! Except for one ‘noise notch’ (a specific frequency I can't hear that they believe to be caused by noise exposure), my hearing is back in the normal range. Isn't that amazing?”
 
That’s incredible, Kasey! I’m so happy for you! If any of you kind lifers have a success story you’d like to share, private message me or post a note to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life.

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Kind Lifer Cyle recently shared how a kind diet has changed his life, and his family’s! Check out his story:
 
“I've been a vegan for two years now and been on and off the superhero status. It has been such a benefit to every aspect of my life. This isn’t about me though! A few months ago, my uncle went to a clinic in California where they have a complete, whole foods vegan arsenal, with educational information, personal doctors and counselors, and food classes. He was quite the meat and dairy lover with a lot of bad health problems - he was 100 or more pounds overweight, struggled with temperament issues, and his skin peeled like a dehydrated onion! When he came home after three weeks, he had a clean bill of health, had lost 15 pounds, and my favorite part, he is such a kind person that it brought me to tears.
 
He is funny, and sociable, and there’s a softer, kinder aura around him and his voice as well. Now after two months, he’s lost 40 pounds! My uncle convinced my already vegetarian grandparents to go vegan! They cut out processed junk, all dairy, and they’re cutting out coffee too! My grandmother has had diabetes for a year, and only lost twenty pounds with the mainstream dieting, but as a vegan, she’s lost almost twenty pounds in two months! And her diabetes is perfectly under control. My grandfather has always had an 'apple shaped' belly, and he’s lost even more weight! All his digestive problems are gone! Yogurt used to be his go-to for the belly, and now he has no problems to fix!
 
P.S. We all love your superhero soft rice porridge (I use red quinoa sometimes – it’s so pretty with a sprig of parsley). . . and the Kabocha Squash and Adzuki Beans (my fave)!”
 
Your story makes me so happy Cyle! Congrats to you and your family.
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story you’d like to share, private message me or post a note to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life.

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Kind Lifer Ara recently shared how he was able to clear up his acne by following a kind diet. He was so inspired by the changes he experienced, he opened a vegan bakery. Check it out:
 
“I had been a very passionate vegetarian for seven years who always struggled with the fact that I really wanted to become fully vegan, but had never enjoyed cooking. I found it too hard to keep a vegan diet when I had to eat out so frequently. In August 2010, I was finally beginning to cook some at home and trying to get healthier. That’s when I came across your book. The Kind Diet is the only book I have ever read from beginning to end in one sitting, and it really changed my life right away. I have struggled with acne for almost 15 years, and after quitting my cheese addiction, my face has been doing so much better. I have so much more energy. And most importantly, I feel good about myself, because I am finally doing all I can for animals and myself!
 
After getting hooked on cooking recipes from your book and others you have recommended, I actually began baking as a hobby. I’ve been unemployed for over a year, so I began a small vegan, gluten free online bakery that helped me get out of my depression and has given me the opportunity to meet many people with my same beliefs. It has been such a rewarding experience."
 
Congrats, Ara, and keep us updated on your bakery! If you'd like to check out Ara's bakery, go to Ara's Petite Treats.
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story you’d like to share, private message me or add a note to your profile and “like” it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

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