by Dr Ralph C T Koelmeyer
Food change enlightens & dismays retired GP
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"I survived a severe heart attack and quadruple bypass in 2001. Following that first heart attack I struggled with the disease until November 1st, 2018 - the first day of excluding all animal, processed and oil-based foods."
was briefly introduced to a food-based lifestyle change, five years before my first life-threatening heart attack. But I dismissed that because I was a doctor and was expected to know better. It was my second cardiologist, who introduced me to nutrition medicine when I first consulted him. He recommended the book by Dr Caldwell B Esselstyn Jr, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, that changed my future. I, a general practitioner, believed I was living a healthy life, at normal weight, normal cholesterol, non-smoker, non-drinker and healthy family history. Then I became a chronic disease sufferer from April 2001. From that day for 17 years, I was burdened with multiple chronic medical conditions. Then, on the last day of October 2018, while reading the recommended book, I experienced a 'Light Bulb' moment, still shining brightly as ever. Since that day, I have been enlightened, dismayed and almost obsessed with my discovery of whole-foods plant-based nutrition medicine. Enlightened, when my many chronic diseases, either slowed down, improved and even reversed, allowing me to disown them. I was taught at medical school and throughout my post-graduate education, these conditions were permanent, and had to be treated for the life of the patient. Dismayed and at times exasperated by the universal disregard, for this almost miraculous, disease prevention and reversal treatment for most chronic diseases, by simply changing what one eats. I have become gripped with educating myself about nutrition medicine. Making people aware of saving themselves from preventable medical disasters and lifelong burden of disability, has become my goal. Those who adopted this healthy lifestyle have experienced benefits to share with others. One lady successfully avoided coronary artery stents while her husband was able to reduce his insulin dose and regained his energy, avoiding residential care. Another avoided a bowel operation by reducing animal foods, particularly cheese. Sadly, some of those I have introduced plant-based nutrition to, have either been unimpressed, dismissive or ignored the information, even by my professional colleagues.
18 wholefoodliving.life | Autumn 2023
In this first of two articles, retired Melbourne GP, Dr Ralph Koelmeyer, reveals the chronic diseases he endured for seventeen years, and how it began to change around. Dr Koelmeyer has become a student of nutrition. He holds a Certificate of Nutrition from eCornell University, a cooking certificate from Rouxbe Culinary and is currently studying for a Prescribing Nutrition Certificate. He regularly attends medical conferences. Of this article he says: "It highlights all those risky situations I was very fortunate to live through. But the most important lesson I learnt is that I could have avoided all that peril - if I had only known about whole plant nutrition." Since the day of my dietary transition (November 1st 2081), I have experienced the following amazing changes. 1. Stopping my heart disease progression I survived a severe heart attack and quadruple bypass in 2001. Following that first heart attack I struggled with the disease until November 1st, 2018 - the first day of excluding all animal, processed and oil-based foods. Prior to that period of my life, I was treated by specialists prescribing the latest medications which failed to prevent my episodes of angina pain and even a second heart attack, 15 years later. 2. Claudication - ceased overnight after eight years This was caused by cholesterol blockage narrowing the arteries supplying my legs. I was living with a real possibility of an amputation. Two vascular surgeons predicted that I would eventually need an amputation. For eight years I lived in fear of losing a leg every time I suffered an episode of pain. Eight years living with the fear of facing radical surgery. Now, after four years of being fully plant-based, I am yet to experience an episode of calf pain.
