Thousands of amazing disease reversals have been experienced by patients and readers. We will rotate individual cases and stories over time so check back frequently.

Autoimmune Disease

  1. A 62 year old woman with severe rheumatoid arthritis and other problems on nine different medications, including Azulfidine and prednisone.
    She had been unable to close her hand to make a fist for 10 years and had pain in multiple joints. Despite numerous physician visits and many years of treatment, she was getting worse.  The patient fasted and then continued with a vegetarian diet. After the medically supervised fast, the patient’s symptoms dramatically improved.  Her ESR (an inflammation marker) dropped from 42 (on prednisone) to 13 (off prednisone).  In addition she lost 35 pounds, her blood pressure normalized and she no longer takes any of the nine medications.
  2. A 37 year old woman was diagnosed with lupus in 1987.
    Over time she was treated with many potent medications to suppress inflammation but did not improve. By 1992, she suffered from headaches, loss of balance, nausea, diffuse joint pain and chest pain.  After undergoing a 20 day fast in the fall of 1992, the patient was placed on a high nutrient dense, low-fat, low protein diet, devoid of all dairy products. Although initially weak, she quickly regained her strength. She was now off all medications.  Her lupus symptoms resolved and her lupus antibody level and ANA titer, both previously high, tested normal.
  3. A 32 year old developed a facial rash and diffuse joint pain and stiffness.
    Following a work-up, a rheumatologist diagnosed the patient with lupus and prescribed steroids and other medications. Instead, the patient sought another option.  She was treated with a high nutrient density diet and within a few months, “made a complete recovery from lupus”. She returned to the rheumatologist in her new state of health.  He wrote “spontaneous recovery” on her chart and dismissed her rudely.
  4. A 43 year old woman with lupus for more than ten years was on five different medications when first evaluated.
    In addition to severe joint pain, she had significant anemia and a rapid heartbeat. During the first month, medications were gradually discontinued so a fast could begin. Because of the history of long steroid use and a rapid heartbeat, the patient fasted for only one week. A few weeks later, the patient reported that her joint pain was gone. Two months later the patient returned to full time work for the first time in years.  

Cancer

  1. Metastatic Ovarian Cancer
    In 1997 a woman suffered a collapsed lung. She had over four liters of fluid removed from her chest. The pathology report of the fluid showed that she had adenocarcinoma, likely from ovarian cancer. CA-125, an ovarian cancer biomarker, was significantly elevated. She received six doses of chemotherapy followed by a hysterectomy and removal of her ovaries. She was told that she did not have long to live. In the same year, 1997, this woman consulted with Dr. Fuhrman. She carefully implemented his recommendations for a high nutrient dense diet with generous quantities of vegetable juices, salads, and high cruciferous vegetables. Over time, the CA-125 and follow-up CT scans became normal and remained so. She has no further signs of cancer and has been very healthy.
  2. Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
    63 year old female diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Within days of the diagnosis, she adopted a high nutrient density diet.  Over the ensuing three months she lost 35 pounds.  Two and one-half years after the diagnosis, the oncologist recommended only local radiation on her groin tumor. The patient wrote, "no signs of the disease have been detected since. (despite having stage 4 disease)  I don't think my energy levels were ever higher than they are now, even as a youngster." 

Diabetes

  1. 66 year old woman with obesity, 10 year history of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and liver dysfunction.
    This patient was taking three diabetic medications but continued to have uncontrolled blood glucose levels.  In addition, she was unable to tolerate several different statin medications because of side effects. Although she was very compliant with the nutritional management recommneded by her physician and nutritionist, her blood glucose levels continued to rise. Finally, the patient adopted a plan recommended by Dr. Fuhrman including a high nutrient dense diet, exercise and a few supplements.  Within four months she had lost 40 pounds and has improved significantly.  According to the patient, "...At age 66 I am in better health than I was 20 years ago since I no longer have diabetes, high serum cholesterol or high triglycerides, and am medicine free. I have enormous energy and can complete 5 miles of rigorous exercise on my treadmill within an hour with little hour each day."
  2. 57 year old admitted to an emergency room where he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes with blood glucose level of 491 mg/dl.
    In the ER he was given insulin and fed a meal which included cranberry juice and chocolate pudding. He was referred to an endocrinologist who advised the patient that he was dehydrated and needed to be hospitalized. Since the patient did not have insurance, he recommended 6 glasses of Pedialyte and/or Gatorade. He prescribed medication and handed him an 1800cal/day diet and left the room. After taking the medication for two weeks at a cost of 400.00 for 100 pills, he became quite ill.   He was unable to get insuranced because of preexisting conditions (diabetes).  Desperate but skeptical, he began the program recommended in Eat to Live. Within three months he lost 25 pounds. His HA1c  level improved significantly-8.9% to 6.0%.  He is no longer on medication and has lost more weight.
  3. Morbidly obese  (338 pounds)  man who has had type 2 diabetes for over 20 years.
    He began the Eat to Live six week program for weight loss.  In the seventh week of the program he has lost 40 pounds, stopped using insulin, has an average glucometer reading of 97 and a HA1c level of 5.8.  He has renewed energy and feels great.  Leg and foot pain that plagued him before are gone.

Heart Disease

  1. 60 year old male with chest pain.  Height 5’ 8” weight 158.
    This 60 year old male had read “Fit For Life” over 10 years ago and was following a healthy “starch-based Mediterranean-type diet.” He ate mostly vegetarian foods with brown rice, potato and whole wheat, fruits and vegetables, chicken a few times a month, fish once or twice a week and some olive oil on salads.  He began an exercise program in June of 2006 and surprisingly found he had chest pain with exertion.   His weight was stable at 158 for years.  A stress thallium test indicated a significant coronary artery disease with an LDL cholesterol of 126.  His CT angiogram done on 6/30/06 showed near total obstructive disease in the proximal LAD (left anterior descending artery) due to low density plaque.

    He began a careful dietary protocol for the reversal of heart disease and did not have angioplasty or bypass as was suggested by the cardiologists. After following Dr. Fuhrman's nutritional advice for one month the chest pains resolved and his weight dropped to 140 in the first 8 weeks (loss of 18 pounds).  One year later a repeat of the CT angiogram showed the LAD with a non-obstructive mixed density plaque with a stenosis estimated at 50 – 70 percent. His weight has remained around 138 – 140 pounds.  In August of 2008 the last evaluation of his coronary arteries was performed showing normal cardiac blood flow and no evidence of heart disease.
  2. 66 year old male with a history of Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome.
    This was responsible for his sensitivity to develop a rapid heartbeat with the ingestion of caffeine, alcohol and sometimes even heavy exercise. He changed his diet first to vegetarian and then to low fat vegan, thinking it would help his heart.  After a little more than one year on the very low fat vegan diet, his irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) worsened and he then developed atrial fibrillation. In June of 2008 he changed his diet to Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritional recommendation: high micronutrient intake, strict salt avoidance, but not low fat including raw nuts and especially seeds. Within three months, his cardiac arrhythmias completely disappeared.  Since then he has strictly adhered to this program with no further evidence of atrial fibrillation.
  3. 51 year old male with a history of obesity, food and alcohol addiction, coronary artery disease, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
    In 2005 he had bypass surgery and two years later had three stents placed. Yet, he continued to have chest pain and shortness of breath with the simplest of tasks and remained obese at over 300 pounds.  On July 10, 2008 he googled "reverse heart disease" and soon adopted Dr. Fuhrman's high nutrient diet. Over time he found renewed energy and vitality. By July 2009 he had lost 140 pounds.  He no longer needs to take medication which had totaled $600.00/month in out of pocket expenses. He now exercises vigorously and enjoys what he eats tremendously.
  4. 56 year old woman with a history of obesity since childhood (top weight-263 pounds, ht.-5'4'') suffered a stroke.
    following the stroke, she returned home from the rehab center with the following diagnoses: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and hypothyroidism.  A year after the stroke, while on multiple medications, she developed tachycardia and "ended up with two stents for a 95% blockage and more prescriptions."  The patient was wheelchair bound and unable to cook.  Her husband learned to cook following the Dr. Fuhrman's recommendations.  A year and a half later, the patient had lost 133 pounds. Her current weight is 130 pounds, one half of her maximum weight. She is no longer diabetic and has no further heart problems. Her fasting blood sugar averages 79 without treatment.  Total cholesterol dropped from 219 to 130, triglycerides decreaed from 174 to 73 and LDL decreased from 149 to 70.  According to the patient, "As hard as it is to imagine, the last time I was this weight I was under age 12.  I no longer snore and my energy and stamina have increased."
  5. 60 year old woman with a history of three heart attacks and five angioplasties in a three year period.
    Despite these procedures and while on ten medications, she remained very ill. She continued to have unstable angina symptoms. She was obese and unable to walk a block. She read Eat to Live and adopted the plan. Within three months of following the plan, she no longer had chest pain was was able to walk two miles without problems. Within seven months of adopting this diet plan, she had lost 90 pounds. She remains healthy on minimal medication.