***PLEASE NOTE: Health and Wellness Discussion meets at a NEW location, Natural Health Food Center. The address is 4610 West Main. We will be located in the back room.

"We have a food industry that pays no attention to health, and a health industry that pays no attention to food." -Dr Garth Davis.

Do you wonder why Americans spend more on healthcare than any other country but are also the sickest population in the world? Although the US only represents 5% of the world's population, we consume 75% of the world's prescription drugs. What are we missing? Awareness perhaps?

Join us at our April event where, for the first half, we'll view a prerecorded presentation by one of the leading physicians in plant-based medicine Dr Garth Davis. Dr Davis, a bariatric surgeon and weight management specialist, gives straight talk insights into how the science presented to us regarding food and nutrition is so confusing and more importantly misleading. This prerecorded 40 minute presentation, including an audience Q&A, was given to a small group of individuals at Veg Fest in Asheville, NC last fall.

For the second half of this month's event, we will follow Dr Davis' presentation with our own discussion about the topics highlighted in the presentation as well as myths, misconceptions and confusing nutritional information that surround us.

Some of the topics covered by Dr Davis include protein, carbohydrates and fat; why are so obsessed with these macronutrients? What about saturated fat, cholesterol, micronutrients, alkalinity, salt and sugar? What foods actually make us fat? What are inflammatory foods? Do we need supplements? Why do so many nutritional studies contradict one as another? Who can we believe? Let's talk about it.

About the Vegan Health and Wellness Discussion Group:

Please join us as we share our experiences with how eating vegan can shape our health! In this ongoing monthly meetup, we'll have an informal discussion on the effects of a vegan diet on health concerns such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure, weight loss, cancer, and autoimmune issues, and we’ll explore various ways of eating vegan for health. Of course, we’ll also share recipes and meal ideas!

We’ll also discuss books, cookbooks, videos, and other resources that are available to help and support you on your vegan journey. And we’ll share our own stories and experiences within the group, providing each other with support and encouragement and NO judgments. (By attending the meetup you also agree to our confidentiality rule, that nothing discussed will be shared in any form with anyone outside the group.)

Our discussion leaders are longtime vegans (and super nice people) Rebecca Silence and Tom Kopinski. Rebecca, a librarian and soapmaker, and Tom, a chiropractor, are long-time residents of Kalamazoo who went vegan together in 2012. They are passionate about animal rescue, permaculture gardening, green living, film festivals, and their rescue dog, Myles, a movie-star handsome basset hound.

Joining Vegan Kalamazoo Health and Wellness Discussion Group is new co-host Nicole Kearsley. Nicole became vegan in 2017 then soon thereafter experienced remarkable improvements/remission in many chronic health conditions. Now she advocates, not only for animal rights, but for the potential health benefits all of us can realize from incorporating a vegan diet. Nicole, a longtime registered nurse, is passionate about deciphering through the nutritional misinformation, myths and "alternative facts" we've long held as truth in our society. Also, through her recipes-only FB page "Just Simple Vegan Recipes" and recently, a website, Nicole demonstrates how simple and delicious vegan cooking is with step-by-step recipes for all skill levels.

NOTE:
(1) The information discussed in group meetings is not intended to replace medical advice.
(2) As always, at Vegan Kalamazoo events, *everyone* is welcome, including vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. However, we request that you only order / consume vegan products at this event, out of respect for our mission. // Also, please do not bring any outside food/drink to our restaurant events.