Whole-Food, Plant-Based Day 4: I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of documentaries and podcasts over the past few months. One that took some digesting for me was Forks Over Knives. This documentary is packed with so much science and research that it has converted a lot of people to move towards this lifestyle.

Research: “It’s estimated that only one to two percent of cancers develop solely from our genes. The other 98% is because of what we do to ourselves to develop it.” I’d always thought cancer was more hereditary, but so much of it is based on our diet. It isn’t just meat to blame either. Dairy is a big offender here too.

Resource: Forks Over Knives (Tubi) https://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film/

Food Tip: Cheese was one of the hardest things for me to give up. As with everything else I’ve found on this journey, there are great substitutions. I’m not talking vegan cheese from the store, but more whole-food, plant-based options. My two favorites are nutritional yeast and cashews. When I first heard of nutritional yeast, I thought it was kind of strange, but it is so good. Some people sprinkle it on the popcorn. I use it for sauces, dressings, and so much more. It is a good source of protein, B vitamins, and other minerals. I also like to use cashews chopped in a high speed blender. This can be added to dressings instead of oil or to sauces for rich creaminess. You can also combine the two to make something like a parmesan “cheese” for pizza.