About Elisa
Since childhood, I have recognized the importance of lifestyle choices. I 'ate right' and was a dedicated athlete in high school and college, even being awarded an athletic scholarship. Despite living an active life and consuming all things in moderation, I was hampered by health issues since my early 20's, and was eventually diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). This disease, although a "mild" case, turned my life upside down. Working became a daily struggle due to debilitating pain and fatigue. I often slept 14 hours a night to recover from a normal 8-hour workday. My relationships suffered because of my lack of energy, and my diagnosis was confusing because I looked 'fine.' When conventional medical treatments failed, I was so miserable that I resigned from work. I chose to use that time to look for less common methods of healing. I studied medical research documenting a plant-based diet's role on disease, and I began re-vamping my own nutrition. I was determined to learn how to prepare whole foods from scratch, and to use my degree in nutrition and dietetics to improve my quality of life on a daily basis.
In the past year, each month I have steadily progressed. As a result, I have been able to drastically eliminate inflammation in my body. My sedimentation rate, an inflammatory marker, decreased from 27 to 2. My ssDNA (an indicator of an immune abnormality) is down from 130 (elevated) to 66 (within normal limits). Meanwhile, I have simultaneously reduced my risk of developing future diseases by significantly increasing phytochemicals in my diet, while reducing my cholesterol values to protective levels. My total cholesterol decreased from 198 (borderline high) to 119, my LDL (bad) cholesterol is 56, and my triglycerides are down to 76. I am off daily medication, with significantly decreased muscle, joint and pleural pain, arthritis, headaches, congestion, fatigue, infections, mouth ulcers, hair loss, and malaise. I still have periodic setbacks with Raynaud's phenomenon, chilblains (sores on my hands and toes), and allergies. I am confident that in time these issues - which have developed over the past decade - will continue to improve. I am able to exercise most days without flaring up symptoms, and I have begun to resume a more fulfilling, quality life.
I have gained valuable insight and experience as a health care provider who has battled with disease and grown all too familiar with the medical challenges patients endure. Instead of relying on medicines with risky side effects, my story is about using nutrition to take control of my health. In the process, I've discovered that plants are the natural, sustainable fuel intended for our bodies.
ROMAINE VIBRANT
I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN). I received my degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Delaware, interned at Geisinger Medical Center, and worked as a clinical dietitian at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center for three years. Many RD's emphasize eating all foods in moderation. Through my research and experience I have learned that eating a whole foods, vegetable-based diet, while significantly decreasing processed foods and animal products can have a drastic impact on one's health.
Rather than "dieting;" counting carbohydrates, fat, protein or calories; relying on expensive shakes, fancy supplements, or ordering food from a catalog - this approach focuses on consuming generous amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes in many different varieties. I am passionate about a plant-strong lifestyle, because I have experienced its healing effects while learning to enjoy the taste of real, unadulterated food.
Rather than "dieting;" counting carbohydrates, fat, protein or calories; relying on expensive shakes, fancy supplements, or ordering food from a catalog - this approach focuses on consuming generous amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes in many different varieties. I am passionate about a plant-strong lifestyle, because I have experienced its healing effects while learning to enjoy the taste of real, unadulterated food.
