Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease

by Sherra Aguirre

Overview

We can all learn how to enjoy good health naturally at any age—and it starts in our kitchens by changing how we eat. In Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease, Sherra Aguirre equips readers with the simplest, most effective way to prevent or reverse heart disease, our number one killer here in the US—especially for African American women, who are on the front lines of the fight against heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

In this empowering guide to healthy eating, Aguirre shares her own story of reversing hypertension and other heart disease symptoms, despite a long family history; she presents current knowledge about the effectiveness of a plant-based diet in reversing disease; and she offers up recommendations from two world-renowned cardiologists who have demonstrated results with patients for many years. Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease guides readers in building a simple food plan around their particular needs with delicious anti-inflammatory foods and provides support for developing the habit of mindful eating. Aguirre explores ways in which choosing a vegan diet and eating consciously are compassionate acts that can positively impact many areas of our lives—and includes tips to help readers sustain results. Full of tips for success based on Aguirre’s personal experience and the experience of others, Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease is a source of inspiration, encouragement, and staying power for all readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647420635
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

SHERRA AGUIRRE, author of Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease, founded and led a successful business for three decades, winning national awards for entrepreneurship, innovation, and service excellence. She sold the company in 2016 to focus on her passion for healthy diet and lifestyle. Now in her seventies, Aguirre describes herself as high energy, in better overall health, and in many ways more fit than in her thirties or forties. She has practiced meditation and yoga daily for more than twenty-five years, and for many years has researched and read extensively about diet and lifestyle as the most important factors for achieving and maintaining good health. By adopting a whole plant-based diet, she improved overall heart health and eliminated symptoms of hypertension despite a significant family history of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. She is passionate about empowering others to maintain vibrancy and good health throughout their lifetimes.


As a health enthusiast, environmentalist, and food justice advocate, Aguirre writes about the healing qualities of compassion, simplicity and gratitude. She draws attention to the ripple effect vegan eating can have on individuals, families, and communities. Sherra is married with two daughters—Tembi Locke, actor, speaker, screenwriter, and New York Times best-selling author; and Attica Locke, multiple award-winning novelist, New York Times best-selling author and screen writer/producer.


Visit Sherra online:
www.sherraaguirre.com www.facebook.com/AuthorSherraAguirre www.instagram.com/sherraaguirre www.linkedin.com/in/sherra-aguirre

Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

Part I The Foundation

Chapter 1 Listen and Love-Living and Feeding Ourselves Mindfully 3

Unconditional Love 4

Learning to Listen 6

The Power 7

Chapter 2 Eat Your Way to a Healthy Heart 11

Studies and Proven Results 11

Introduction to Nutrition-Based Cures 14

Family History Is Not Destiny 14

My Own Struggle 17

Chapter 3 How You Can Prevent or Reverse Heart Disease 19

Getting Started 21

Find Support 23

Detoxes and Cleanses 24

What Do I Eat? The Basic Guidelines 25

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's Plan 27

Dr. Dean Ornish's Program 29

How to Choose and Personalize Your Plan 31

Chapter 4 Overcoming Food Addictions and Cravings 35

Sugar Addiction 36

Flour Addiction 37

Forming Healthy Food Habits-A Simple Secret 38

Moving Forward 41

Chapter 5 Reclaiming the Joy of Eating 45

Beauty, Simplicity, and Abundance 47

Eating a Persimmon in Fall 50

Slow Food-Patience and Appreciation 53

Recreating Food Traditions 54

Part II Shopping and Healthy Food Options

Chapter 6 Fruits and Veggies: Eat AH You Want! 59

Shopping Tips: Local and Seasonal 60

Spring 61

Summer 62

Fall 62

Winter 62

Reap the Benefits 63

Getting Reacquainted with Your Kitchen 63

Raw Food Advantage 67

Salads 68

Smoothies 69

Sautés 69

Soups 70

Steaming 71

Baking 72

How to Eat Out 73

Gaming a Restaurant Menu 73

Beautiful Dinner on the Road 75

Vegan in a Steakhouse 77

Chapter 7 Making Healthy Choices 79

Sugar and Alternative Sweeteners 80

Honey 82

Stevia 83

Raw Coconut Sugar 84

Raw Agave 84

Maple Syrup 85

Molasses 85

Moderation is Key 86

Plentiful Protein 87

Soy 90

Legumes 91

Healthy Carbs 92

Whole Grains 92

Seeds and Nuts 92

Healthy Fats vs. Processed Oils 94

Chapter 8 The Spice of Life 97

Spices and Benefits 98

Peppers 100

Resurgence of Nutritional Medicine 102

Chapter 9 World of Flavor: Regional and International 105

American Soul Food 105

Asian 107

African 108

Indian 110

Southwest-Mexican 111

Italian 112

Middle Eastern 114

Chapter 10 For Your Sweet Tooth 117

Plant-Based Baking Tips 119

Egg Substitutes 119

Plant Milks 119

Cobblers and Cookies 120

Raw Sweet Treats 121

Vegan Ice Creams and Sorbets 121

Raw Hemp "Milk" Shake 121

Chapter 11 Eating and Living Mindfully 123

Be the Change 126

Healthy You, Healthy World 126

Recipes 131

Acknowledgments 155

Endnotes 157

Resources (Books, wesbsites, organizations, etc.) 161

About the Author 165

Editorial Reviews

2020 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner in Healthy Living

“Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease shows you how to use whole plant foods and mindful living to bring health and joy to every stage of your life.”
—Brian Wendel, Founder and President of Forks Over Knives

“A great health resource for everyone concerned with our deteriorating health in a world of scientific advances that should be improving it, this book is a journey back to health by going back to basics—by recognizing, appreciating, and returning the love of our body's highly evolved 60-trillion cells, working hard 24/7 to keep us healthy. It shows us our own ability to heal disease by paying absolute attention to what we are feeding them, by changing our diets in ways that ensure their wellbeing.”
—Elisabet Sahtouris, PhD, evolution biologist & futurist, author of Gaia's Dance: the Story of Earth & Us

“Sherra Aguirre has written a thoughtful, well-researched book combining nutrition science, medicine and her personal inner awareness, which will serve our community well in this era of rapid transformation. May her words resonate with you in your journey towards optimum health and global wellbeing.”
—Sailesh Rao, PhD, systems specialist and founder of Climate Healers non-profit, author of Carbon Yoga: The Vegan Metamorphosis and executive producer of Cowspiracy, The Sustainability Secret, and What the Health

“Heart disease is the number one killer of all United States citizens, and Black women are its primary victims. In Joyful, Delicious, Vegan, Sherra Aguirre outlines a powerful, effective battle plan to defeat heart disease. This must-read book serves as both an inspiring health journey and a stepwise health guide for anyone battling heart disease or any other chronic illness. This book will enhance the health and life of anyone who reads it and follows its path!”
—Baxter Montgomery, MD, FACC, clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Universityof Texas Health Science Center and medical director of Montgomery Heart and Wellness

“Joyful, Delicious, Vegan is an inspiring guide to achieving the very best of health. The power of foods is surprising—even life-changing—and this immensely practical book will guide you to putting it to use.”
—Neal D. Barnard, MD, FACC, adjunct professor at George Washington UniversitySchool of Medicine and president of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

From the Publisher