“I had been dogged by health issues like IBS, hypertension and musculoskeletal problems for most of my adult life. Around 5 years back, I attended a ‘Peas vs Pills’ workshop, which did make me reconsider my consumption of dairy, but since I was neither diabetic nor overweight, I did not feel the need for making sweeping dietary changes.

Then about 3 years back, a sudden spell of seizures at work left me almost immobile. It was diagnosed as an inflammation of the right dural membrane, which basically meant that there was a thickening and inflammation on one side of the membrane covering my brain. I was put on steroids, TB drugs, epilepsy drugs and osteoporosis medicines, as the cause of inflammation was unknown. Because of these my kidney and liver parameters deteriorated and to control that I was given even more drugs.

I came across a nutritionist who treated inflammatory disorders. She put me on a non-dairy diet but recommended fish and olive oil in salads. I was also given lot of supplements. I was taking close to 30 pills a day. I had ended up substituting my allopathic medicines with supplements. My condition improved up to a point. When an abdomen sonography revealed early cholesterosis of the gall bladder, it came as no surprise.

To understand for myself the role of nutrition on health, I completed a one year diploma in nutrition therapy from the UK, started reading the book ‘China Study’ by Dr T. Colin Campbell and slowly it began to dawn on me how the whole food plant-based diet is ideal for overall health. Aided by the SHARAN cooking classes and a consultation with Dr Nandita Shah I got on the right path.

After 8 months of being medication free, my reports showed no signs of cholesterosis and there are no signs of the other illnesses too. My biggest reward has been that my faltering career is again back on track. As an oil industry professional, I am now strong enough to go for review visits to offshore oil platforms, a far cry from the days when I could not even stand without tottering. To celebrate my recovery, I also recently got myself certified as a plant-based nutritionist from the Centre of Nutrition Studies, Cornell University.

I am now completing a course on whole plant-based nutrition as it has helped me heal tremendously. Thank you for showing the light, SHARAN!” – Sharmila Roy