Amanda’s Story of Cancer Remission and a Plant Based Diet
By Molly Patrick
Jan 20, 2023,
Is a plant-based diet good for cancer patients?
I sat down with Clean Food Dirty Girl member Amanda Meuleners to hear her story of cancer remission and a plant-based diet. Amanda was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2017 at the age of 34. The diagnosis was a huge surprise, as was the news that there weren’t any non-invasive treatment options. She began the first of multiple rounds of chemo and radiation while also embarking on a personal journey of learning as much as she could about her diagnosis.
Amanda soon found that plant based eating may be beneficial for both preventing and treating cancer. She began eating plant based and, after a particularly difficult round of chemo when she almost died, she decided to go all-in with a raw vegan diet. After a week, she started to feel better and stronger. Eventually, Amanda felt like she’d found her purpose.
I want to feel healthy and stay healthy, and I really believe that if I keep feeding my body the nourishment it needs, then my body can stay strong.
Amanda Meuleners
When eating a strict raw vegan diet became unsustainable, she found Clean Food Dirty Girl and fell in love with our blog recipes. She joined our private Facebook group and, about a year later, became a Clean Food Dirty Girl member. She began batch cooking and really enjoyed the food. Now, she’s been in remission for about four years and has had relief from her IBS and acid reflux symptoms, too. She credits plant based eating for her continued health.
Watch this chat with Amanda to learn:
- How listening to your intuition can be so important for your health journey.
- Plant based eating is a spectrum and there are lots of ways to make it work for you.
- How batch cooking can be supportive and sustainable even when life is difficult or busy.
- When dealing with health challenges, figuring out why you want to survive can help you navigate and push through. In the same vein, finding why you want to eat plant based can keep you on track when the initial motivation has waned.
Disclaimer: This article is about Amanda’s story and is not to be used as medical advice. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or treatment plan.
Our chat is also available as a podcast.
Amanda reminds us to give ourselves grace
It’s okay to be messy, it’s okay to occasionally eat out or have something that isn’t on your list of “good” foods! Give yourself grace, check in with your body, and then move on! Our bodies need help to detox sometimes, so as long as you eat the food your body needs most of the time you will be in good shape!
Wow! Amanda is such a badass and I’m so happy I got to spend some time with her.
Do you or someone you know have experience with cancer remission? Was a plant-based diet a change you made? Let us know in the comments below.
Xo
Molly
Some things we discuss in this episode:
- Simple Peanut Love meal plan
- Chris Beat Cancer by Chris Wark (book)
- Forks Over Knives (documentary)
- Vegucated (documentary)
For more, check out My Go-To Whole-Food Plant-Based Resources.
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